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Palin's Speech: What Does She Need To Do?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has faced questions since she was named to the Republican ticket. Tonight is her chance to answer them and to help frame the campaign. (Post, Melina Mara)

ST. PAUL -- When she takes the stage here tonight to deliver the most anticipated speech of the Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice presidential running mate, will be judged primarily on how well she addresses three overarching concerns: Can she help McCain galvanize the party? Can she overcome controversy about her family and her conduct as governor? And could she step in and lead the nation in the event the 72-year-old McCain were incapacitated?

Palin is the most unknown vice presidential pick in recent history and, as such, her nationally televised acceptance speech will function as her first real introduction to the Republican Party and the average American voter.

The self described "hockey mom" and one-time sports TV reporter has served as governor of Alaska since 2006 and before that was the mayor of the tiny town of Wasilla. Since McCain surprised the country with his choice of Palin last Friday, the national political discourse has been dominated by questions over precisely who Palin really is, how seriously she was vetted by McCain's campaign, and whether her pick was a calculated gamble or a foolish bet.

Palin is also the subject of an Alaska legislative investigation into allegations that she improperly intervened to try to get a state trooper fired. Palin enjoys strong support among GOP social conservatives and fiscal conservatives, and her choice as the vice presidential nominee has been viewed as a bid by the maverick McCain to mend fences with his party's conservative base.

Tonight's speech will go a long way to answering many of those questions.

So, what does she need to do? The Fix polled a group of Republican operatives -- ranging from a handful who are strongly pro-Palin to those who are decidedly more skeptical about the pick -- and asked them what they wanted to hear in her address tonight.

The best suggestions -- combined with a few of the Fix's own thoughts -- are below.

• Reclaim Her Image: When Palin was introduced as McCain's vice presidential selection last Friday, the story seemed almost preternaturally appealing: mother of five including a son in Iraq and a five-month old with Down Syndrome, a beauty queen and basketball star, and a reform-minded governor cleaning up corruption in the Last Frontier. In the intervening five days, however, that image has been sullied somewhat by a series of revelations including: the pregnancy of her teenage daughter, questions surrounding her role in the firing of a state trooper who was formerly married to her sister, and the millions in earmarks she secured while mayor of Wasilla. Palin needs to turn her biography back in her favor tonight -- selling hers as a uniquely American story full of the hopes and dreams as well as the trials and tribulations that any family faces.

• Substance Matters: The central question surrounding Palin is whether she is ready to step in as president if, for whatever reason, McCain becomes incapacitated. Given her thin resume (she has been governor for less than two years and before that was the mayor of a small town), Palin must -- and we can't emphasize this strongly enough -- show a familiarity with national issues and an ability to speak intelligently about them. Our guess is that she will clear this bar without a problem. Remember that she (and her speechwriter Matthew Scully) have been working on this address for days and it is designed to play to her strengths -- policy and otherwise. (Expect to hear lots of on energy from Palin, a major national issue where she is most comfortable.) The bigger problem for Palin on policy will likely come the first time -- maybe next week? -- when she is put out before the national media and subjected to a series of questions on a variety of topics in a far less controlled setting.

• Blame the Media: One of the most reliable applause lines with any group of base voters -- liberal or conservative -- is to attack the media. Former senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.) showed he is well aware of the effectiveness of that strategy, laying into the media at several turns while defending the Palin pick. "Some Washington pundits and media big shots are in a frenzy over the selection of a woman who has actually governed rather than just talked a good game on the Sunday talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit," roared Thompson. (Damn media!) Palin would do well to pick up this line of attack, casting the media as a vicious -- and bored -- horde picking on her and her family. If Palin can cast herself as a sympathetic figure to those watching on television (she is already seen that way by delegates in the hall) by using the media as a foil, she will have scored a major victory in her speech.

• Call Out Obama: The traditional role of the vice presidential nominee -- and his/her speech at the convention -- is to savage the other side's presidential nominee. Palin is a blank slate when it comes to her ability to perform this function but must show tonight that she can throw a punch. One Republican strategist suggested the best way for Plain to go after the Democratic nominee is to compare their experience in public office -- both have been in elected life for about the same amount of time -- and note that she is running for the number two job while the Illinois Senator is seeking the top post. While that line of argument would almost certainly go over well inside the convention hall, it remains to be seen whether it would sell to the broader electorate. We remain skeptical.

• Charisma Counts: One of Palin's great attributes, according to those who know her well, is her charisma and ability to connect to voters. She'll need to draw on that skill set tonight if she wants to win over skeptical undecided voters looking for more information about her. Republicans -- and perhaps many moderates -- want to like Palin; she has an intriguing life story and the idea of a woman in the White House is intriguing to many people who have no strong affiliation with either party. The more she can convince them tonight that she is the right woman at the right time, the better chance she has of leaving the stage as a success.

Sarah Palin Should be the GOP nominee!! not McCain. The Republicans are much more excited about palin then mccain., The new most famous person in the world. Uh Oh, Wonder if she is a Muslim too? Or worse, the anti-christ?

One family value we all should be able to agree on is that it's not good for teenage girls, girls who haven't finished high school, to get pregnant. In fact, it's most often a disaster. The odds are that a girl in that situation will have a lifetime of medical, emotional and financial problems, will have much lower achievement both academically and in her career than her classmates, and will very likely be a single mom when she's 30. Ms Palin is being hailed as a super-mom at the very moment of her greatest failure as a parent. Her new prominence, and the glorification of the very sad story of her daughter's situation, sends a horrifying message both to moms and kids of the "real people" she hopes to make her constituency.

I feel an obligation to honesty and truth to share with you some facts. My Father and Mother instilled in me the values and morals of treating people fairly and always being honest. If you purchase something, you pay for it. If you borrow something, you give it back.

I have been "stiffed" three times in my 30 year professional career by someone who I rendered services to, gave a finished product to, but who refused to pay for those services even though they acknowledged the services and products were correct, were what they asked for, and were never challenged for not being correct. I am lucky in having only three, but those three hurt badly.

Joe Biden was one of those people. I worked on his 1988 Presidential campaign financial disclosure engagement. I busted it for him and got everything right. He stiffed me for over $15,000 worth of work. He refused to pay once he dropped out of the race. I did similar Capitol Hill campaign financial disclosure work for Bob Dole, Pat Buchanan, and a Democratic candidate for Ambassador to New Zealand . All of those folks paid even though they lost the election or did not get the appointment. That type of work is very demanding and very tedious because your efforts are scrutinized by Congress. Biden did not care.

I am on the Board of Directors of a company that owns a majority position in a private jet management company in Northern Virginia . They manage jets for businesses and rich folks. They also charter planes to the public. This past winter John Thompson chartered over $250,000 worth of air time. He paid every penny.

Joe Biden, in his latest unsuccessful run for President, chartered over $150,000 worth of air time. He PAID ZERO. He continues to refuse to pay stating his race is over and he is out of money. He never once complained about his flights. Joe Biden is a rich man. He could pay.

Joe Biden is a liar and a cheat. I know it first hand. Character is what life is all about. Joe Biden is a man of bad character and sets a bad example for America .

I feel compelled to share this dark side of a man who asks for your vote and trust.

What does Sarah Palin need to do? How about look out for her kids for a start. It's nice that Mrs. Palin can afford to have a child with Down's Syndrome. She must have great health care paid for by the taxpayers. I wonder how many of those same taxpayers would have no choice but to abort the child or give it up to an institution because they don't have the same kind of coverage...and won't if she and McCain are elected. And who is taking care of Twig when Mom is politicking. Dad says he is, but he has other fish to fry. When he's training for the Iron Dog sled race and is away for weeks at a time...who is in charge? Or when he goes out hunting for fishing for weeks at a time, which he says he does, who's looking after the kids? From the evidence, no one...but I'll bet there's a paid nanny and a housekeeper. And what about Bristol...Mom had to know her pregnant fifteen year old daughter would get smeared in the press and be the butt of Jay Leno monologues, but instead of protecting the child, she kicked the kid to the curb and went for the power. Family values. Yeah, right.

Obama Byden Laden (sounds eerily familiar)with dark deceptive pasts. But it is all about selective reporting of the facts by the Liberal-sided media. Where is Jesse? Does he still want to cut someones nuts? How about God lov'n the Dems by inflicting hardship on an American city laden with Dems?

I find it fascinating to read that Ms. Palin switched colleges 6 times in 6 years. This story was picked up by the Associated Press last night and does not seem to have peaked the MSM attention but I find it extremely relevant in discussing this woman’s qualifications or lack there of.

Sarah Palin is a religious lunatic. For some reason, in the United States people elect religious lunatics to political office. Then the people are puzzled about why disaster ensues. Come on now, people! Think it through before you vote this time!

McCain and Palin's term of office, if you elect them: (1) a third war (with Iran), to add to the two disastrous wars we're already mired in. (2) four more years of total inaction on global warming and climate change (Palin believes that climate change "is not caused by human activity"). (3) John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsberg retire from the Supreme Court to be replaced by two more Antonin Scalias -- kiss your remaining rights good-bye!

"It's funny what Republican pundits say when they think nobody's watching. Today, John McCain's former campaign chief Mike Murphy and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan were caught on tape after an NBC interview. They shared their real thoughts on McCain's judgment in selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate." [MoveOn.org]

Did you notice how they keep passing the poor baby around. The father actually gave the baby to the youngest daughter and she played with him like a doll. The parents do not seem to be involved in the baby's life. The daughters seem to be taking care of the baby most of the time. Sarah and her husband just holds the baby for photo ops.

Firstly a confession, I haven't seen the speech yet. But it strikes me that expectations were so low for the small town girl that all she had to do was avoid tripping over the podium to beat them.

For the record, I don't think that people like myself are angry at Sarah Palin because we're scared of her. We simply think that her brand of religious, judgemental politics is bad for the world. She is a creature of the right wing, reactionary Republican party, in that way she is even more dangerous than George Bush has proved to be.

Her views are narrow-minded on key issues such as abortion or gun control. She is a under investigation for abuse of power. Has publicly said that she will use the office of VP to bring home the bacon to Alaska. Which is odd given that she is supposedly a campaigner against earmarks, which oddly she was for, before she decided it was better politics to be against them.

Attacking Obama for his days in Chicago were rich coming from her. He was working in the poorest areas of the city, she was working from the relative comfort of a cozy office in Wasilla town hall.

That is why there are a lot of people who do not love the blessed Saint Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Throughout my career I have had to deal with bigoted males and bitter liberals. It is refreshing to find someone like Governor Palin who has forged ahead despite undeserved ridicule and bias. Washington politicians and the media NEED to be shaken up. It is clear that these two groups of elitists are running scared. As an registered Independent I can finally say I am proud to find two people who display strength of character and these two definitely aren't surnamed Obama or Biden. Neither Palin or McCain would have any problem as leaders of a country I love—the USA.

It's time for the Washington Establishment (Post) to be cut down. The fact that so many are angry at the Republican nominee in the liberal simply means that they are very afraid. Otherwise if they really belived what they say in their comments they should be happy that we picked such an "awful" VP. We didn't and they aren't happy.

Palin states:And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
Umm.. taking swipes at community organizers silly girl. Only Sarah Palin is bright enough say community organizers DO NOT have "actual responsilbities" at the RNC. Then this quote" In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change. " ummm...some one needs to rewrite her speaches, lol.

She said nothing to convince anyone that she can lead the country. She might be able to lead a street fight. Why was she picking on community activists and what's up with asking for privacy for her daughter and letting the media know about and get the photo of the boyfriend coming to the convention. And who paid for that trip?

I wanted to hear what Gov Palin had to say. I tried very hard to keep an open mind and give her a chance to convience me to vote for her. All I heard was a lot of bad mouthing. I wanted to hear what her plan was to help our country. I thought she would take the high road as Sen Obama and not take attacks on family. Her comment about being proud of America was a direct attack on Michelle Obama. I am a proud American and love my country, but there have been times in America's history that I am not proud of. IE: slavery.....This speech just made me angry. I can't wait to cast my vote for Obama

She needs to get some experience quick. She also needs to appologize to community organizers and she really needs to disapear. I don't share her values, morales or politics. She definately doesn't represent me.

Get the hook and take her off the political stage. She calls herself a bulldog with lipstick. Now that is the kind of image we need as a role model. When she becomes a grandmother will she have time for one more role?

I say to Sarah, keep your day job and let's move on. Obama and Biden have class and don't have to resort to cheap shots.

Redstate guntotin' God-fearing (and not damning) mom here.
I just have to comment on the comments here. What a bunch of sickos! Your comments about "rednecks" and "retarded children" and other spewed bile make me recoil in disgust.
God help us if this people ever get control of our country.
Look in the mirror--this is not just about politics--you need help!

I wasn't sure about McCain but kept an open mind, but Palin is too far.

McCain is pandering. Palin is one of the worst practitioners of Cronyism and Nepotism. She has shown herself to be a horrible person by firing the career civil servants that have worked under her in the government of Alaska. Apparently she doesn't care much about your economic well-being if you're standing in the way of her ambition.

Who cares about her illegitimate grandchild? What matters is that the grandchild doesn't turn out like grandmother. Palin is a corrupt politician and bad excuse for a human being.

The gushing over Palin from the 'base' - the only thing that could be more 'authentic' and 'real' would be TWO teenage pregnant daughters and college vandalism charge, or maybe a DUI.

At last we are seeing it, it's Compassionate Conservativism..at last! Bush promised it so long ago, I almost forgot. I guess it just means compassion for people just like us Republicans with exactly the same belief system and social status.

The only new information that Palin offered in her speech is the outline of an energy policy.

The only difference I can discern between this plan and the one that she just offered is the pipeline construction component (new nuclear plants, clean coal, and alternative energy are identical to the Democrat's plan).

The other 40 minutes of this speech consisted of citing McCain's war hero credentials and mocking Obama's experience.

In Oct. 26, 1967, the admiral's son while flying his 23rd mission over North Vietnam, once again fell from the sky, this time landing in the hands of a brutal enemy. He was beaten and bayoneted. His shoulder was smashed and his right calf was nearly perpendicular to his knee.
The severely wounded McCain was finally thrown on the back of a truck and hauled to the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison camp. Immediately, his captors began to interrogate him using sadistic methods they had perfected on hundreds of captured U.S. servicemen before him.

His interrogators demanded military information. When he refused, his guards kicked and pounded him mercilessly.
McCain admits that three to four days after he was captured, he promised the Vietnamese, "I'll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital."
McCain also admits that the Vietnamese rushed him to a hospital, but denies he was given "special medical treatment" because of his promise.
He claims he was given medical care normally unavailable to captured Americans only because the Vietnamese learned he was the son of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., the soon-to-be commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific including those fighting in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese figured that because POW McCain's father was of such high military rank that he was of royalty or the governing circle in the United States. Thereafter the communist bragged that they had captured "the crown prince"and treated him as a "special prisoner."

Less than two weeks after McCain was taken to a hospital, Hanoi's press began quoting him giving specific military information, including the name of the aircraft carrier on which he was based, numbers of U.S. pilots that had been lost, the number of aircraft in his flight, information about location of rescue ships and the order of which his attack was supposed to take place.
There is also evidence that McCain received "special" medical treatment from a Soviet physician.

After he was out of the hospital, McCain continued cooperating with the North Vietnamese for a period of three years. He made radio broadcasts for the communists and met with foreign delegations, including the Cubans. He was interviewed by at least two North Vietnamese generals one of whom was Vietnam's national hero, General Vo Nguyen Giap.

On June 4, 1969, a U.S. wire service story headlined "PW Songbird Is Pilot Son of Admiral," reported one of McCain's radio broadcasts: "Hanoi has aired a broadcast in which the pilot son of the United States commander in the Pacific, Adm. John McCain, purportedly admits to having bombed civilian targets in North Vietnam and praises medical treatment he has received since being taken prisoner.
McCain says he violated the Code of Conduct only when the North Vietnamese brutally tortured him. He further claims that he was so distraught afterwards that he tried to commit suicide. He has never explained why his "aid to the enemy" continued for more than three years.

Even though there are no reports in the public record from other POWs who witnessed McCain's claims of torture and heroics or his attempted suicide, the American media has accepted his version of events word for word, no questions asked.

Yet, the same press that transformed the admiral's son into an "incredible war hero--an inspiration to all Americans," vilified the two grunts.
Comparing the incidents surrounding the fates of three POWs,' who collaborated with the enemy, makes one question why two faced possible execution for treason, while the third won acclaim as a hero fit to be President of the United States.
Once more, Lady Luck had smiled on John McCain . . . or was it the admiral?

Non-white people at the Republican convention? That's the way we want to keep the party! Now if we can just get old man McCain to dig the crap out of his ears and listen to those of us who don't want Caribou Barbie! God help us all!

I'm curious why people are putting any stock in a speech that Sarah will deliver that she's had no input in writing. Great...she can read a teleprompter about talking points she has no experience with and she didn't help craft.

The other 3 can talk about the issues from their own viewpoint. Obama writes all his own material. McCain doesn't but has insight on the issues (granted i'm a liberal and think he's largely been wrong since 2000)....Not entirely sure about Biden since he's been named VP but he's obviously comfortable on his own two feet. Palin they have to send to 'boot camp' to teach her her opinions on the issues.

OMG!! Nothing but bunch of whiners here!!
No wonder why the America is heading to a wrong direction…
Palin is definitely more qualifying than any of you here; I’m considering changing my direction just to see how it goes…very interesting...

I was bending over backwards to give Governor Palin the benefit of the doubt, trying to emphasize the pluses in her experience and in her personal story.

But my efforts to think the best of Governor Palin will cease until she clarifies her views on the August 17 sermon that she attended at her place of worship, the Wasilla Bible Church. The August 17 guest preacher, David Brickner of the Jews for Jesus movement (which has been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League for endeavoring to convert Jews to Christianity through subterfuge), stated that terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people reflected the will of God, because Jews have not accepted Jesus as their savior.

Governor Palin attended David Brickner's sermon on August 17 and published remarks made by her pastor on August 17 demonstrate his support for David Brickner's views. Until Governor Palin clarifies her views on this sermon, I cannot support her or Senator McCain.

I hope that other members of the Jewish faith will ask the McCain-Palin campaign to provide this clarification, and that they will withhold their support from the McCain-Palin ticket if Governor Palin does not reject Brickner's views. It is inappropriate for Jews to support a ticket which does not condemn the view that it is the will of God that Jews be attacked by terrorists for their religious views.

News to the McCain-Palin ticket: failure to condemn David Brickner's ugly statements will not help you win Florida and other states with significant Jewish populations. Nor will it help you win contributors from the Jewish community. Senator Obama correctly repudiated the anti-American remarks of Pastor Wright. Will Governor Palin do the same with respect to the anti-Jewish sentiments expressed by her paster and by David Brickner?

OMG I get tired of all the God people passing judgement and informing all of us what we can and can't do with our own bodies. Get off the Save the Children sermon, please. If I choose abortion then I will burn in hell, not you. And by the way, how many unwanted, crack-addicted babies have you and your Holier-Than-Thou buddies adopted lately? There's plenty of neglected children suffering already -- choosing abortion simply spares one child from a life of hell. Be a Jesus freak all you want -- just quit with the preaching and start actually doing something to solve the problem.
Oh, BTW I don't need your prayers; I've got a purer heart than most so-called Christians out there. Plus I'm one of God's favorites because I love his little creatures. When's the last time religion made a stand for Animal Rights?

As Wm. J. Clinton would have said (in his better days), not bad, Mark, not bad at all.

You left out Palin's lifetime commitment Pat Buchanan's [alleged] hate agenda (the well-respected Anti-Defamation League devotes a whole page to Pat's (and I guess Palin's) "views"). The reason we don't hear about that in the media is Pat is MSNBC's objective political analyst. What? Bob Grant or Imus wasn't available?
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I can't believe the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of sexism? So attacks by Republicans on Obama are racist then? First, it was Sarah Palin who told the nation her heterosexual unmarried daughter from a Christian home with good values was pregnant by a guy that calls himself a f--king redneck! It was Sarah Palin who fired the police commissioner for not firing her sister's husband! Troopergate! Cover up! It was Sarah Palin and Todd Palin who are members of a radical, secessionist group that wants Alaska to form its own nation to kill polar bears and drill oil in the ice! It's Sarah Palin who proudly said unlike Bill Clinton that she inhaled marijuanna! It's Sarah Palin who said that U.S. soldiers should only be used as American jihads or in a holy war by declaring that the Iraq war was "a task of God!" It was Sarah Palin who received millions of federal earmarks while claiming to be a reformist! It was Sarah Palin who lied about that bridge to nowhere and rejecting funding! Let's hope the American electorate builds a bridge to nowhere and send McCain-Palin-Bush-Cheney-Rove on it and then dismantle it so they can't comeback! I can't wait for the debates. I'm hoping Joe Biden tells Sarah Palin "Sarah, I know Hillary Clinton. I serve with Hillary Clinton. Sarah, you are no Hillary Clinton! Sarah is Dan Quayle in a dress. Wasn't it Sarah Palin who said Hillary Clinton should stop whining about the Democrat primary? Now, who is whining! It's time for Sarah to face up to her imperfections.

Good God...it looks like the only people posting on this site are Democrats. All I have to say to you is that if your man Obama wins look forward to having National healthcare finally put in place. I'm sure you won't mind digging into your bank accounts to pay for everyone (including immigrants here illegally) to get into doctor appointments before your own family. Nooo...I'm sure that won't bother any of you at all.
I'm just looking forward to when Obama will finally have the long awaited debate with McCain. How about we concentrate on the issues that are really important...not the gossip.

I refuse to watch that Nazi rally they pass off as a convention tonight. I will spend the evening reading the Bible and praying to God that a Woman with retarded children not be allowed in the Whitehouse. Lord hear out prayer.

I believe Govenor Palin I look at it this way If and only if Obama and the demacrats are with out sin they can cast the first stone I mean look at president Clinton He was a demacrat and look what he did to Monica lewinski and look Hillary was a USA senator and was running for president but know one said anything about her Obama and the Demacrats are just Jealous because she is better then them I think they will do a wonderful job for this countries jobs and the enviroment and health issues and education keep up the good work you two

The author is so clueless and deluded. "Blame the Media" ROFL! Who else is there to blame? You're trying to make mountains out of a few meaningless occurrences in her past. I'm going to laugh my ass off at you "journalists" when McCain wins.

Palin abuses power, fires employees for inappropriate reasons, replaces them with Michael Brown cronies (repeatedly as both mayor and as governor) then, in true Bush style, stonewalls the investigation and smears the investigators.

I just checked out the Enquirer web site (through Drudge) and the Palin baby hoax and Troopergate scandals are just the tip of the iceberg. Much, much more to come.

Will someone tell me why I have to get news (as opposed to bloviating) about the person wanting to be a heartbeat away from the presidency from a supermarket tabloid, rather than the so-called mainstream media?

According to the Enquirer (and no one including Palin is contesting their information) this woman and her whole world are a disqualifying horror story. But do I read any of this in the Washington Post or hear it on NBC? No. I have to go to Drudge and the Enquirer.

The MSM will discuss this stuff freely off camera (let's be clear: they know about it)but won't share it with the American voters who have to make an important decision. Oy.

The one positive we should give to the McCain campaign is how they have brilliantly played the expectations game. If she can manage to read her scripted speech without falling over the teleprompter, the gullible media lap dogs will predictably fall all over themselves ready to salivate how unexpectatly billiant she was.

I can't believe the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of sexism? So attacks by Republicans on Obama are racist then? First, it was Sarah Palin who told the nation her heterosexual unmarried daughter from a Christian home with good values was pregnant by a guy that calls himself a f--king redneck! It was Sarah Palin who fired the police commissioner for not firing her sister's husband! Troopergate! Cover up! It was Sarah Palin and Todd Palin who are members of a radical, secessionist group that wants Alaska to form its own nation to kill polar bears and drill oil in the ice! It's Sarah Palin who proudly said unlike Bill Clinton that she inhaled marijuanna! It's Sarah Palin who said that U.S. soldiers should only be used as American jihads or in a holy war by declaring that the Iraq war was "a task of God!" It was Sarah Palin who received millions of federal earmarks while claiming to be a reformist! It was Sarah Palin who lied about that bridge to nowhere and rejecting funding! Let's hope the American electorate builds a bridge to nowhere and send McCain-Palin-Bush-Cheney-Rove on it and then dismantle it so they can't comeback! I can't wait for the debates. I'm hoping Joe Biden tells Sarah Palin "Sarah, I know Hillary Clinton. I serve with Hillary Clinton. Sarah, you are no Hillary Clinton! Sarah is Dan Quayle in a dress. Wasn't it Sarah Palin who said Hillary Clinton should stop whining about the Democrat primary? Now, who is whining! It's time for Sarah to face up to her imperfections.

What about her 4 month old son? He is the one needs her the most not American. How can she take the career over her own family? If she focus on her family, how can she do work for America? We are not only Alaska.

Other bloggers have noted rightly that McCain has made an irresponsible choice and thereby trivialized the office of the Presidency. But I don't see them taking this to it's logical conclusion.

The Republican Party's sainted Ronald Reagan famously stated that "Government is not the solution to the problem. Government is the problem." He railed and the party continues to rail against the ineptitude and irresponsibility of government. It is now all-too-clear that all of this anti-government rhetoric has been nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy all along. Not only do they believe government is inept and irresponsible, they believe it is their sworn duty win at all costs so that they can succeed in MAKING government inept and irresponsible. Without inept and irresponsible government, you can't have needless, overblown, endless WORLD WARS and the subsequent looting and war profiteering in the form of big crony contracts. You can't let an entire region of the country sink under flooding and permanently displace hundreds of thousands of residents so that they can build golf courses in the 9th Ward of New Orleans.

--Very good at planning community picnics.
--Plans good Memorial Day pool parties.
--Prints up a good flyer to get a lot of people to attend picnics.
--Close relationships and understanding how terrorists think since one of his best friends is one.
--Excellent at changing his position and saying he "has been very clear"

Yes Americans wll be so impressed that she can read her handler's scripted speech from a teleprompter. That takes such a deep and thorough understanding about Georgia and the Mtg Crisis; we know that. We will all be so impressed.

If Noonan, et al. are saying Palin's over and the stick-by-Palin convention party line is a bunch of BS, they should say so loudly and repeatedly on the air. On the air.

It is clear the convention folks are saying Palin's through off the record, but here's been some agreement not to admit that on the record. The cable bloviators are just lying enablers. No wonder cable ratings, except for O's speech (a record rating), are in the dumps. The MSM is reporting about 5% of what are provable facts about Palin.
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"Peggy Noonan, Chuck Todd and Mike Murphy speak the truth unwittingly on open mic on MSNBC is going viral. See TPM for transcript.

I cannot believe that there is another republican in this world that believe that Mrs. Palin is qulified for the job of vice president. You all are to ashame to admit that John McCain does not have good judgement about anything. All he did was pick a young woman to help his image of being an old man. He passed up all the qualified women in politics and picked someone younger than his wife. maybe Cindy better watch out wasn't he married when he met her and she was younger than his first wife? The man is not qualified to run this country and the republicans know it they would rather have him than a democrat. They don't believe that he is ready or he would have won against Bush the first time he ran. He has to read every thing he talks about. He doesn't believe it in his heart or he would not have to read everything. This man is insane.He is a fool and we will do worse than Bush. Mrs Palin knows that she cannot handle home let along the u.s.a. When she speak tonight she will only be saying what the republicans tell her to say since they are stuck with her. If it was a man with the same unexperince that she has he wouldn't be ready either. Face it Mcsame blew it.

Many presidents had no real world experience when they stepped up and raised their right hand. Mrs. Palin has demonstrated a willingness to follow Jimmy Stewart to Washington to serve her country, and by golly, I am willing to consider just how much good a true outsider might do. No debts or favors owed, no footprints or vendettas. A new mom yes, but guys, really, how many of you can do the dishes, cook dinner and help an older child with homework with one hand wrapped around a baby? Gumption could have a magical quality. You go lady!

Some of you Lefties are dimply deranged, others just hateful, while the majority of you simply don't get it.
Srah Palin is the CEO (Gov.) of the State of Alaska.
It doesn't matter what the size of the state is, it still has all the needs and demandas of any other state. Just as building a small house and a large house are the same, with differnt trim details.

She is very highly qualified to do the VP thingie, while NObama is highly qualified to be a community organizer (rabble rouser), and has spent only 143 days doing the job he was elected to do.

Palin stacks up as a better choice than NObama for POTUS, y'all are nuts if you vote for a puppet who won't even tell you who his masters are!

And TCKAL, it's not about race, but about qualifications. Get over it, NObama is NOT QUALIFIED.

And to bushpussy: you are certifiably bug freakin'nuts, please turn yourself in to the nearest mental health facility, fast. You need help desparately.

You Libs will see the end of the Obama ticket begin tonight. I have seen this woman first hand. She's real. Americans will fall in love with her tonight. so much more sense than those egotistical self promoting Congress.

There is too much sewage coming out way too fast to even keep track of it.

Palin's strategy of trying to intimidate the press into not covering legitimate newsstories about her like this one is not going to work because of the blog journalists and the alternative media (e.g., the Enquirer).

I just heard Michelle Bernard on MSNBC say she was proud that during her time on the air the baby hoax wasn't discussed. Why? She should be ashamed: the press should report the news, not avoid it.

While the MSM have been dodging the story, dubbed "Breakwater-gate" by Maureen Dowd, more information has come out. There was a brief post on Daily Kos that the hospital where the child was supposedly born has absolutely no record of Palin's child's birth on the date she claims it occurred. Nada.

This evidence can be added to Palin's totally unbelievable story about the young girl staying out of school 7 months for "mono," Palin taking an 8-hour plane ride after her water broke, and then showing up at work 3-4 days after the "pregnancy." Oh and none of the stewardesses on Palin's 8-hour flight saw any indication Palin was pregnant (no discomfort, no baby bump, no nothing). This is clear and convincing evidence of an elaborate hoax (allegedly) by a pulbic official.

What is more, as the Daily Kos post pointed out, Palin has offered no contrary evidence to support her bogus version (e.g., medical records, nurses and doctors affidavits). Palin's "Breakwater-gate" is not a rumor anymore. It seems to be what we call fact (unless Palin pushes back on it, which she conspicuously hasn't).

Note to the Press: do what you would have done in the old days, go to Alaska, get to bottom this, and prove (or disprove) the Palin hoax. Get busy.

you know as these people have pointed out, YOU ARE LYING YAHOO!!!, you (the media) should not be allowed to take sides, your just another web version of fox news, She did not fire the state trooper instead she fired the commissioner for not firing the state trooper I personally don't care if you (the author of this article) want to believe this story or not, but YOU need to state the truth instead of blurring it and making insignificant, God how much is the McCain campaign paying to post this bulsh!t

The Democrats and the Media hates, if you are not one of them then you must be destroy, along with your family. what is the fear? Is it because we believe in something other then self? That tell us not to live in debauchery, and to treat others the way you want them to treat you. Are the rules thy want us live by just for us, and not for them? Why do Campbell Brown and Soledad O'Brien attack Palin on motherhood? Who's watching there children? The democrats and Media has a well known antipathy to truth.

I am all for womans right's. I am married have a daughter and 3 sisters. I want them to be treated fairly and be compensated equally in their chosen career's. But I do not think the Vice President of the United States of America is where you go for on the job training.

I applaud the fact that Mrs Palin is a soccer mom and a career woman. But I do not think she is prepared to be one step from the most powerful position in the free world. And all the advisors in the world are not enough because ultimately the decisions Mrs Palin will have to make will have to be based on more than her gut decisions.

I think the stakes are too high for this selection to sway the voters of the US to be gullable enough to think this is a good idea. I know that many of you hate the Clinton's. I think Bill Clinton did a better job under duress for 8 years than Bush did with a Republican Congress and Senate.

I think Hillary Clinton was more than qualified, she was in the White House for 8 years as first lady. She lived it and she said more than just say no about the important issues that she tried to initiate. (Remember Health Care Reform). The right and there mouth peices attacked her viciously.

Republicans are so willing to talk about what a great Lady Nancy Reagan was and she was consulting psychics on when Ronny should speak.

Get a grip people, America needs more than a maverick. We had a gun slinger for the last 8 years and all he did was destroy our image in the world and attack the wrong country. He let Bin Laden get away because his daddy and Baker are in bed with the Saudi's in the Carlyle Group. Oh yeah and he left us broke and tetering on recession. Remember ENRON?

If you truly care about America you have to start doing whats right, not just what is profitable.

OMG.. it just keeps getting better and better and better...the pictures just keep coming.. I guess you can't shut down the entire World Wide Web... I used to think McCain actually picked her for her substance.. Amazing what a good looking woman can do to your head..

The media should count the number of references made by Palin and McCain in their speechs about W's Adminitration.
Any guesses on the number?
After 8 years in office, and 900 miles away, likely not even a word; as though the last 8 years never happened.

The Republican pundits are all saying she has "executive experience"....just google her hometown where she was mayor...the townhall looks more like a South Carolina baitshop that anything else! She received her first passport last year at age 42...and she's would be a heartbeat from the presidency. Scary stuff folks! She's even less intellectually curious about the outside world than dubya. Again, scary stuff.

I just want to say that I have nothing against Sarah Palin nor her family. My main gripe is that she is out of bounds in terms of what OUR COUNTRY needs in a VP (most likely to become a Prez) and historically if she were running for presidnet - which she essentially is - when you look at how feeble John McCaine is - she wouldn't make it past the first round for several reasons:
She doesn't have a military background whatsoever.
She doesn't have a law degree nor any tough degree from a tough school to get into.
She doesn't have experience working in the senate or house of representatives.
She is (yet again) a new mother.
She doesn't have a track record as a mayor of a Huge City or governor of a populated state.
Her views (though Republican) seem to go against the grain of what this country (America ) needs at this point in time.
I will say she's beautiful and cute but that's not what this country needs.
I can't see her conferring with our generals in wars. America has been at war for 80% of our existence and we will (most likely) continue this trend.
Most likely (possibly) America will be attacked and in new wars (just look at the ships gathering in the Black Sea right now).
Economically America is collapsing/imploding/shrinking right now.
Healthcare, jobs, alternative energy are needed.
If we were looking for a Moose hunter that flies a seaplane with five kids that is against abortion and is an evangilist Christian that doesn't mind wiping out the Polar Bear and Wolf and believes that drilling for oil and shooting caribou is the "right thing to do" then she'd be my pick.
But the qualities that she possesses and her lack of legal, economic, war, and government background, and most importantly leadership doesn't fit the needs for the next up and coming President (which is why there is such an uproar) because everyone knows that John McCaine is TOO OLD to be president and everyone doubts he'll make it through 4 years and everyone knows McCaine wants to stay in Iraq's Civil War.

So Sarah Palin is a fine mother and has experience as a mayor of a small town of 8,000 something, but I live in California where there are close to 40 million people
and we have issues here that she couldn't even dream of. How can she run a country of 300M + Americans that will likely grow to possibly 350 million in 4 years when she has NO EXPERIENCE handling the growing crime, the growing economic stability.

The issue isn't Sarah as VP since the VP doesn't do anything except make the deciding vote in the Senate and wait around if something happens to the Prez, but the real issue is the BIG IF she becomes president if the President is incapacitated like Bush almost was when he choked on a pretzle and Dick Cheney almost instantly became the President. So the issue is is Sarah Palin qualified to be president NOT Vice President.

Mrs. Palin when in public and trying to show class try one thing... PANTYHOSE to cover your legs. It shows class and elegance, and someone that can dress in style. Remember people will notice the open toe carelsss look in the long run

Everyone knows the McCain camp is the one putting out all the "ugly" about Palin. They're doing this so they can blame the dems and fire everyone up in her defense. This way in the future no one will be able to critize her without looking bad.

I find it very interesting that there are several 'lifelong democrats' posting now claiming to be voting for McCain (because of Palin). I find that extremely suspicious, and I'm pretty sure those people were hired by the McBush campaign to create fake posts. The republicans will really sink to any depths to lie and cheat their way into power, won't they? Simply disgraceful. Throw the bums OUT! And KEEP THEM OUT!

1. All schools are to be banned from teaching evolution, effective immediately. Reason: God created the Earth 6000 years ago says the Bible. As for dinosaur bones, that's just a liberal trick.

2. All schools are to be banned from teaching birth control, also, effective immediately. As for the pregnant daughter, yes she is a disgrace, but she will "soon find Jesus and be saved."

3. The only part of the federal budget that counts is the military budget. All aid to the states for education or health care, that is not military related or for "homeland security," is to be cut immediately.

4. More guns are needed, especially in the schools. The ban on automatic weapons is also unconstitutional. If children could just carry guns to school, all bullying would stuff and wouldn't that be progress?

5. The war with Iran will start shortly and USA/NATO forces will march on Moscow. Look, these people are mostly Muslims anyway, so we are doing a good thing. If Russia strikes back with nukes and the Armageddon comes, that's OK because the Bible tells us the end times are coming and Jesus will take the good people (liberals and abortionists excluded) to heaven.

6. No fetus is to be aborted. No exceptions for rape and incest. No gay marriage either. Funding for a new program, called convert the gays to hetros and Jesus will start immediately.

7. As per the Bush legacy, anti-American activity is to stop immediately. We can tell who is anti-American by high speed computer scanning of everyones internet emails and web sites. It's Guantanamo for offenders who will confess to their crimes under state approved torture, sorry I mean waterboarding techniques.

Now, of course some of the above does contain some hyperbole and rhetoric. Or does it?

Several conservative pundits have been caught on MSNBC tape when they thought the mike was off....saying that Palin selection was "political bullsh*t" ...."selected just for her narrative" and that "It's over for McCain". Caught on MSNBC tape tonight.
This is what the Republican pundits really think off the air, but won't dare say on air. Another conservative pundit from the Wall Street Journal stated that Kay Hutchinson was extremely miffed that this unknown was picked unstead of herself. Check it out on Huffingtonpost.com

Strange these Republicans. They seem to prefer making this election a referendum on the selection of an inexperienced kook from a nothing town (passed through there last year) in a backwoods state, rather than the record of a sitting President of their own party.

I regret to inform the living fornicators at the surface that Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Max Planck, Euler, Lorentz, Rutherford, Joule, Boyle, Bohr, Helmholtz, Faraday, Maxwell, Davy, Ohm, Volta, Franklin, and Feynman et al. are all with me now. They burn for all eternity.

Make sure to teach your children the correct science, i.e., that which was taught by Hanna Barbara. The way Fred, Wilma and Dino carried themselves is the standard Americans should strive to achieve and maintain!

Palin said she wants to shake up Washington thats nearly exact words of George Bush and what did he do for America, nothing nothing nothing . He didn't work with the government he was given but in the most egregious ways bullied and threatened and lied and lied again over and over and over again. Bush's advisor Karl never finished High School. To all americans, I would only imagine that must have been quite a blow for the people that voted for George Bush because he betrayed their confidence and trust in him , that he could get something done. Now we have trillions upon trillions not counting the iterest on trillion $ loans. So when Palin says shake I think sorry No Thank you NO! Never.

Sounds an awful lot like how Gonzo and W treated the nonpolitcally appointed US Attorneys. Is McCain OK with how the US Attorneys were fired and does he not understand the parallel treatment by Palin?
Is that what he means by putting country first?

You've got to read the WSJ opinion posts on Peggy Noonan's article today entitled, "A Clear And Present Danger To The American Left," which Noonan praises McCain's choice of Gov. Palin. Most of the comments are glowing, calling Noonan's article, "a watershed" and some calling for McCain to hire Noonan for his campaign staff. But we know know, in private, that even she believes what she wrote today is a bunch of garbage. The WSJ Editors won't even post a link to the You-Tube clip of Noonan's "hot mike" comments. The WSJ posts are hilarious now that we know Noonan was basically lying in her article about what she really believes.

Nothing is more funny(and STUPID)then the Racists, White Supremacists and Black Man hating lesbians(and other assorted Idiots) who claim to be LIFE LONG DEMOCRATS who have voted for White Supremacist and Racist Democrats all their lives who for the first time(since a Brother is the nominee) are voting for(surprise) the Racists and White Supremacists on the Republican side.

It goes to the judgement and pricipals of the Racists and White Supremacists(Black man hating lesbians)that they will put their Racism, and White Supremacy over the well being of this Country. John McCain showed the same irresponsibility by choosing Palin and now the Idiots on the Democratic side are doing the same.

As American's you Racists and White Supremacists and Black man hating lesbians have every right to follow your Racist and White Supremacist and Black man hating lesbian upbringing but shame on you for selling out your Country for that nonsense.

Drudge has excerpts from the speech. The stuff you would expect - drill, drill, drill for oil - plus the sort of drivel you would expect from the campaign that promised an emphasis on personalities, not issues.

The phrase "hockey mom" has been around for 4-5 days, and it has already been beaten into the ground. Of course it's in the speech. Someone should tell McSenile that he's running for president of the US, not Canada.

Poor Palin - her destiny has been to be plucked from obscurity, only to be set up as a fall guy for when this Titanic sinks. Maybe she was chosen for her experience with icebergs way up north.

"In my opinion the firing of the commissioner is even more serious than the mere firing of the trooper would have been. The commissioner was only doing his job, refusing to yield to political interference"

Sounds an awful lot like how Gonzo and W treated the nonpolitcally appointed US Attorneys. I McCain OK with that

And didn't Ferraro get skewered by the R right and Ruh when she dared to suggest that she never would have been selecetd by Mondale had she not been a woman. And those same R who attacked Ferraro are now saying how dare anyone question Palin's compitence. Has she been consulting with Gonzalez in dealings with her subordinates?

She needs to pray for a miracle, because it's going to take one before critical thinking Americans believe she is qualified to be Vice President. She is simply out of her league and the Lord Almighty can't help her and McCain get elected now. John McCain blew it!

You don't have to be a democrat to know that Ms. Palin should not be V.P.She's not qualified, and yes Obama does have more expeience than she. She's been a Govn. for 20 months and Obama has been in the politcal scene fo more than a decade and in the senate for four years. Did anyone look at that Harvard place he went to for law? I think he practiced too. Wow

The desertwillow proclaimed, "Palin is the governor of a state with a population less than most major cities in the lower-48."

As pollster Kellyanne Conway explained to Peggy Noonan, "There are 262 cities in this country with a population of 100,000 or more. But there are close to a hundred thousand small towns with ten thousand people or less. We are a nation of Wasillas, not Chicagos."

There is more corruption and incompetence in large cities than in small towns. Under your population theory Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit must be qualified to be president (until he goes to jail, that is.)

Willow continues, "She has served for 18 months, and during that time her approval rating has declined significantly."

Rasmussen puts it at 64% Excellent to Good.
If you put stock in that stuff that's still pretty good. If it were a building, Palin would be in the Penthouse, Nancy Pelosi in the janitor's closet in the basement. But I have a good idea who you like better.

Reagan ups thumbs for Obama. Slams the the Palin pick, saying it was irresponsible decision, and troubling that Palin, knowing that her daughter was pregnant, nevertheless chose to expose their daughter to the inevitable scrutiny and attention that would certainly come from a VP candidacy.

I think if Palin is to fool the Racists, White Supremacists and Black man hating lesbians she needs to adhere to their Racism, White Supremacy and Black man hating lesbianism. Palin is unqualified she has NO experience and shouldn't be no where near the Presidency but she is because she is meant to counter and belittle the fact that Barack Obama is Black. Only the DUMBEST of Idiots those of who already support McCain are likely to fall for it.

I have never voted republican. This could be the first time. A woman who can do it all and still have a value system with her children and their children. It has always been easy for men to have ghosts in their closets and go forth and succeed. I want to watch this female maintain herself and her children and her career and I want all the people who judge to pay attention. Having gone through decades of issues personally it is my concern that men do anything but women have no leeway. Why would anyone condemn a female for a baby and why would anyone forget the history of men and that the double standard needs to stop at the gate. A mother with principles and a person with dignity and I will vote republican for the first time ever and I am 64 years old. Jeanne

"The Enquirer, which exposed John Edwards's extramarital affair, cited unnamed sources in alleging that the Alaska governor had an affair with a business associate of her "fisherman husband," Todd Palin -- the story doesn't say when -- and that he found out and severed relations with the man."

Senior McCain officials described themselves as "unsurprised" today as huge storms of locusts flew from Wasilla, Alaska and descended upon McCain campaign headquarters. "Locusts were vetted. Locusts were vetted in the vet" said one campaign official, who spoke without attribution out of concern that he would be devoured by a verminous flying cloud. The campaign also said that they were nonplussed by reports that the rivers were running black with ashes, that family pets were begin to speak in human voices, declaiming "Release Sarah!", and that a huge spreading stain was beginning to blot out the Northern sun. "Vetted", said the campaign.

"There are exciting new studies that show that locusts can be used as a source of biodegradable fuel" said Newt Gingrich, as he hunkered down to avoid the black marble obelisks falling from the sky around him. "Palin, if she can be said to have played a role in bringing about these new biofuel resources, should be praised for her innovative role in the solution to our future energy demands".

"These events firmly demonstrate Palin's deep connection to traditional modes of traditional expression, in traditional forms, traditionally." said William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard. "Experience, in the face of these more traditional events, is overrated..." continued Kristol, before ending the interview to wrap himself head-to-toe in mosquito netting and swallowing a bitter tasting anti-malarial drug, the taste of which, as his lips contorted, he noted to be "surprisingly refreshing."

Palin's schedule in the upcoming days of the Republican National Convention has been cut short due to, as one McCain communications aide reported, a desire not to "let the magic out of the bottle too quickly." "Sarah is a precious resource, who each moment brings a new vitality and energy to every worker on the campaign" said the aide, while fighting to remove the nest of serpents which had suddenly materialized on the floor beneath him, and were now slowly ascending his legs. "Do these bite, or just slink?" asked the aide, who spoke on conditions of anonymity so as not to provoke or otherwise alienate the reptiles.

Meanwhile, as the heavens darkened, the seas began to boil, and a deep voice tore through the clouds shouting, in stentorian tones to one and all: "It was a Mistake!", campaign offices described themselves as "unperturbed". "Serpents materializing, house pets suddenly called to vocal advocacy, Celestial callings to revise and repent...Vetted" said the spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was turning into a pillar of salt. "Everything that was vetted was vetted in the vet."

She'll just read the speech Rove's operatives have admitted they've had her hidden practicing last 24 hours. My 15 year old could do it as well. He should be sec def. But you'll call hers a 'home run' as the GOP operatives have scared corporate media into line again.

Oh, now I get, I'm to believe EVERYTHING Sarah and McCain say. SHE REALLY IS A REFORM, BUT NOW IN THE WAY HE MEANS. CHECK THIS OUT, IT'S LITTLE MISS SARAH AND THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE SHE DIDN'T SUPPORT! LIAR!http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=11217

YOU WROTE: "[...] questions surrounding her role in the firing of a state trooper who was formerly married to her sister"

CORRECTION: It was Palin's police commissioner who was fired when he refused to fire the state trooper who had been married to her sister, NOT the state trooper himself.

In my opinion the firing of the commissioner is even more serious than the mere firing of the trooper would have been. The commissioner was only doing his job, refusing to yield to political interference.

Now that Reagan's speechwriter Peggy Noonan and former McCain advisor Mike Murphy have been caught admitting that "it's over" and that picking Palin was "cynicism" on McCain's part, and that Palin's pick was "political bu11sh1t, I think we can all call it a day.

Yi hah! Mooseburgers and a book ban party for everyone. I hope that the Obama team does not treat her with kid gloves during the campaign. If she wants to be veep she needs to go through all the same situations everyone else does. I doubt Putin, Medvedev, or muslim leaders are going to cut her slack because she's a woman. Get Hillary out there to tear her a new (Blank). Republicans wil cry foul if she is given a hard time. Think what they would do to Hillary, hell what they have done to Hillary. I say go after her just like they will go after Obama and Biden. This is the big league.

I am a 38 year old hispanic mother of two. Until recently I was purely democratic in all my political beliefs. UNTIL RECENTLY! Of course watching the disgusting way Hillary was treated by the Obama campaign and the way the cowardly dem. party tucked their tails between their legs and pretended not to notice when the media sharks got a hold of her and tore her to pieces I am now listening closely to what Sarah has to say tonight. I might just have become a devoted republican.

How is her pregnant daughter not a political issue when she claims the religious factor? How can Palin accept her "unmarried pregnant daughter" but not gays? It was her choice to get pregnant but not gays choice to be gay... Don't understand how she can be so hypocritical on biblical issues? How can she pick and choose what she wants to support and back? Did God come tell her personally to hate, dislike, or condemn gays? If so d@!* I commend her then she needs to be a saint not VP. But honestly doubt that that has happened. And last time I checked he hasn't told anyone that. And for those that say it is in the "Bible"... Who wrote the "Bible"? Wasn't God. Man did. And then again in the "Bible" it does say too, John 3:16 For God so loved the WORLD! Not just Republicans, Christians, or Hetrosexuals but "THE WORLD" and last I checked I am in the world! So why would God love me and condemn me? If he didn't like it wouldn't he end homosexuality? Why would he make me a homosexual if he didn't want me this way?
I think that Gay Issues shouldn't even be an issue, it is my right as a human to LOVE and be Loved. Just like it is her daughter's right to have an unwed child. But I don't appreciate how people that are "religious" only read into the "Bible" what they want and what benefits them!
We will see what happens!!!
Obama '08!

Mike Murphy has always been a straight-shooter, so far as talking heads go, and Noonan is not one to suffer fools gladly. If Russert were still with us, he would have pulled this admission out of them anyways.

This is something that is going viral, and demonstrates the complete disconnect between what the GOP is saying privately and publicly. Palin is going to blow up in a big way. What a disaster.

Hey Edwic, (September3,2008 6:06 PM)
Your #1,2,3 reasons are well, basically the same and your #4 reason is not a real reason at all - actually make that all your reasons which goes to show that you are definitely NOT #1.

Cause then there was this boy whose
Parents made him come directly home right after school
And when they went to their church
They shook and lurched all over the church floor
He couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just gone there

Stop calling McCain a "maverick." That image exists only in his head. If he was truly a maverick, he would have held firm to his choice of Joe Lieberman. But, instead, he made an uninformed, impulsive, and in-you-face decision. Yup. That's what we need from a President. Irrationality.

What about the many talented Republican women who were truly qualified to serve as VP? Too bad for them. McCain has an obvious preference for beauty queens.

And, for the record, Palin's experience is in no way equal to Obama's. That, too, is an insult. In fact, the Repub's have been caught padding her resume, by claiming that she visited Ireland. The Irish press today revealed that it was merely a stopover between other flights. She never left the airport. This calls into question the rest of her "experience." How authentic is it?

Palin is the governor of a state with a population less than most major cities in the lower-48. Due to low voter turnout, she was elected by a very small percentage of the populace. She has served for 18 months, and during that time her approval rating has declined significantly. The jury is still out re: her effectiveness and her accomplishments.

As a VP candidate, she has been kept shielded from the media.

And, as for her speech. By, Republican standards, "it's just a speech."

Stop calling McCain a "maverick." That image exists only in his head. If he was truly a maverick, he would have held firm to his choice of Joe Lieberman. But, instead, he made an uninformed, impulsive, and in-you-face decision. Yup. That's what we need from a President. Irrationality.

What about the many talented Republican women who were truly qualified to serve as VP? Too bad for them. McCain has an obvious preference for beauty queens.

And, for the record, Palin's experience is in no way equal to Obama's. That, too, is an insult. In fact, the Repub's have been caught padding her resume, by claiming that she visited Ireland. The Irish press today revealed that it was merely a stopover between other flights. She never left the airport. This calls into question the rest of her "experience." How authentic is it?

Palin is the governor of a state with a population less than most major cities in the lower-48. Due to low voter turnout, she was elected by a very small percentage of the populace. She has served for 18 months, and during that time her approval rating has declined significantly. The jury is still out re: her effectiveness and her accomplishments.

As a VP candidate, she has been kept shielded from the media.

And, as for her speech. By, Republican standards, "it's just a speech."

Would someone please start asking Palin some hard questions on what she will do as the VP. Moreover, what does she know about domestic policies, foreign affairs, global economics, world history (up to date), geography and the basics of taking office as The President of the United States of America; if Sen. McCain is to pass away.

Then start answering the character questions that seem to make her out to be a flip flop and a hypocrite.

Ask her if science is real. Ask her if she is aware that 48 square miles of ice in the Arctic have just melted away this year and how much melted last year. Does she know what Sweetwater is? Does she know that global climate changes are not in a trend for warm (short term), but rather a dramatic cooling after?

Does she think that having a baby at her age would not have its issues? Does she think that having a baby at her daughter’s age would not have its issues?

Does she really champion for hunting polar bear and wolves... from an airplane? How much did she allocate from the budget for hunting and how much did she give to education?

What is the average level of education in her state and the graduation rate?

Some one takes a camera out to her home town and look around.

I have been Alaska on more than one occasion and I know what you will find.

Then ask McCain if he knows the answers.

I know the answers to all these questions; so does that make me a good choice? I'll answer that...no, not for a few more years.

You know, if it weren't for the talking in tongues fundamentalist pea-brained creationist/intelligent design B S , maybe I would give her a chance. But no, I had enough of the official dumbing down of the US for these past eight years. No. No. No!

MY MY MY there is a lot of scared hate build up in here..sounds like there is nothing left to do except spew hate like there is no tomorrow..why are there so many comments appearing that have inappropriate comments..of course if they were monotored..there would be no one left reading them as some humans thrive on the gore..this site isnt quite as riveting as Daily Kos....hang around it will get there.

Rob L.,russ_broadway , Quinn, and all you other folks who bash Mc Cain - Palin,
Barrack can't be trusted, period!!
He doesen't have a glue if you really were listening to his speaches. He talks, like our Indians used to say, with a forked tongue. Don't let this smooth jive talking man lure you to believe in him. If he shaves his head, you may find 666 tottoed on his skull. He choose Sen Biden because he knows he needs someone with experience to make decisions for him. If he should win the election we better beware of his not knowing foreign politics. Remember JFK??? He almost lead us into a nuclear war!!! Come on folks, wake up. Show that you are american people and not morons who believe all the crap Obama is telling you.

For a middle of the road Republican to devalue and trivialize the highest office(s) of government of our nation is unconscionable.

Selecting ignorant people "govern" is beyond reproach. This is akin to placing an elementary school teacher in command of a naval fleet. Unschooled, untrained and unfamiliar the stranger is unable to make informed decisions.

Reliance upon "advisors" is not useful if one is ignorant. One has no basis for rejection or acceptance of advice.

Judgement is useless when a decision is based upon the roll of dice rather than informed process.

I simply do not view the RepVP as one who is able to learn 2% of what is necessary to responsibly function in either position.

This is no time for on the job training relevant to the economy, foreign affairs, the myriad of domestic crisis and the foresight and wisdom and knowledge to guide our nation forward.

If one is honest about the past 7+ years you'll know that this is true.

Your vote, as mine, is private. I'm just asking you to consider what I've written before voting this coming November.

I do not expect the 30% of Republicans who are characterized as "Religious..." to pay one bit of attention to this plea. I also do not expect the 5% or whatever the number is of the wealthiest Republicans to pay attention to this.

It's those who believe in the Constitution, who understand that government isn't a play act theatre whom I address.

If the Democrats posted a candidate of similar "everything" I promise that I'd switch my party vote in 1/2 of a second and never look back nor regret the decision. And I've done just that in 2 elections and for reasons of competence. This doesn't happen often but it does happen.

Jolly good choice for Veep John Boy! You have now removed all doubt about whether you are senile. Palin = Dan Quayle in-a-dress. McSame accused Obama of being a celebrity like Brittany Spears or Paris Hilton. Now that he has picked the Beauty Queen Bimbo from Mooseville, there goes both his celebrity argument, AND his experience argument. What a way for a 72 Y/O man to reassure the public. Maybe he thought he was hiring a nurse!

Whiner? Whining is what Hillary's gonna be doing tonight after she throws stuff, beats up Bill, rips her clothes and hair, shrieks and wails like a goosed banshee and before she snivels, whimpers, curses everyone and finally goes to sleep.

Funny, political conventions are normally bored scripted events. The RNC is turning their convention into a real pot boiler. Not sure this is what the Republican Party would have scripted but it's more entertaining. All the culture issues Republicans bashed Democrats over seem to be coming home to roost. I doubt the Republicans will see any sort of bounce when the convention wraps up.

Sorry to wax a little cynical here folks, but what experience did Hillary have, beyond moving to a lib district in New York to use it as a presidential stepping stone. Thank God that hag is gone - she was worse than looking at Ernest Borgnine.

For those of you who complain about Sarah Palin's evangelical religion's rhetoric, you are barking up the wrong tree by trying to claim she's anti-semitic.

And there are far more evangelicals like Sarah Palin in the United States than there are people in Obama's kind of Trinity Church, with its Rev. Wright's "black liberation theology" and its rants against Jews, white establishment conspiracies and sexist and racist hate speech for sermons!

Remember Obama's Religion? Here's a refresher:

Obama was converted from Muslim to Christianity at Trinity Church by Rev. Wright and was a member of that church for 20 years until some videos came to light earlier this year. The videos contained Rev. Wright sermons in which he engaged in racist, conspiracy theory, anti-American rants.

In one recorded sermon, Rev. Wright listed U.S. support of Israel in a litany evils that the U.S. engages in, and declares that anyone who criticizes Israel is accused of anti-semitism (a familiar complaint of Muslims). Barack Obama's Trinity Church and Rev. Wright were not only racist hate speech artists, but also anti-Israel and anti-semitic.

Rev. Wright litany of United States evils sermon
(ist starts at 20 seconds and reference to Israel at 1:30 mins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfNEfEBYIZs

One vein of his pastor, Rev. Wright's, political activist teachings, is how "Zionists" and the United States are conspiring to oppress Muslims, Arabs and Africans. His pastor published a Hamas manifesto in the Trinity Church newsletter, which called for activists to "unite" in an "armed struggle" against "oppressors" United States and Israel.

Image of scan of Trinity Church newsletter with Hamas manifesto
www.bizzyblog.com/wp-images/TUCChamasColumn072207.jpg

Earlier this year, both Hamas and Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader, endorsed Obama's candidacy for U.S. president.

Finally, you can watch Obama stammering and stumbling over questions about what he believes, at the Saddleback forum last month:

Barack stumbling over "what does Jesus mean to you"?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHtAWPjzvyk&feature=related

Wants to teach creationism in Science Class, subverting the US Constitution..
Tried to get books banned at the local library.
Fired her entire staff 10 days into term as mayor, for lack of loyalty.
Used every available lever to get an enemy fired from his job, and is still lying about it.
Put a gag order on her administration as mayor of a town of 6500.
Milked the Federal Government for huge series of earmarks, by using lobbyists.
Was not Ms. Congeniality. A Ms. Gwin, who was Miss C. , says my gal is ‘shallow.’
Enjoys killing animals. Doesn’t like Polar Bears.
Doesn’t believe in Global Warming.
Went back to work three days after having a fifth child, who has Down Syndrome, an acute care condition wherein the child’s chance of thriving is often a function of how much time his or her parents spend with them.
Used Alaska First as her campaign slogan, which is the same one as her husband’s old party, the AIP, a secessionist organization she recorded a supportive piece for this year!
Is being touted as Presidential Timber for her experience as the Head of the…now get this…the Alaskan National Guard.” If that ain’t a hoot…
Misled America about the Bridge to Nowhere, in her first national speech. .
Has no International experience.
Is on the record as suggesting we are at war for “god.”
Goes to a Church that is more pro-Palestinian than Israel.
Left her town Mayoralty with a huge debt, having outspent all around in her.

I could care less about Trig or Bristol, or Levi, or whatever. She’s a hack, a bible thumping moose killing liar. A redneck, who thinks she's doing the lord's work. (as in she's crazy-and we got enough crazy around here, we don't need our leaders too all be nutbags.)

Call me crazy, but when i see a thumper like her, i say crazy. Freud said living an illusion, Einstein said God was a childish myth, and well, them right Christians are as dangerous as the Taliban ever was. Religion has a poor record when it gets in power. Death, torture, the whole thing.)

The point is, for days after McCain' VP pick was announced, the media swallowed the the campaign's "reformer" and "maverick" labels for Gov. Palin without any fact checking, so the headlines on all major media outlets used those two words. "She's a Reformer!" "She's a Maverick!" But those labels are outright lies, and the story is how the media got suckered into using McCain's rhetoric. The post by @adamjacobbryant a few minutes ago is a good summary of the mountains of hard, scary facts available on Gov. Palin. But the mainstream media continues to overlook her biggest debacle - the Wasilla Sports Complex and the federal case, "City of Wasilla v. Gary Lundgren". Tell me how all you right-wing conservatives feel about Mayor Palin's abuse of eminent domain in this episode:

City Council has agreed to allocate $661,028 from its general fund balance to help cover costs associated with the court case of Wasilla vs. Gary Lundgren. Lundgren sued the city and won an award of just over $1 million after the city used eminent domain to take a parcel of property he was negotiating to buy.

“I think it’s time to move on this issue, sooner than later,” Councilman Marty Metiva said about paying the settlement. With about another $300,000 in interest that accrued over the years, the council agreed with a unanimous vote and minimal discussion it needed to act quickly.
The dispute over the land began during the administration of former Mayor Sarah Palin in the late 1990s when the city and another buyer were interested in the same property, said Wasilla City Attorney Tom Klinkner. The city was negotiating with a local branch of The Nature Conservancy to buy the parcel of land where the Multi-Use Sports Complex is now located. The problem was Gary Lundgren had already begun negotiations with the national branch of the organization for the same tract of land. The city sued to acquire the land, putting it and Lundgren in federal court.

Initially, it looked as though the city would win the case, but the judge decided Lundgren should receive the land, Klinkner said. With a large amount of money already dedicated to the land acquisition, the city, by this time in the administration of Mayor Dianne M. Keller, used its eminent domain powers to finally condemn and take the parcel in December 2002.

Archie Giddings, Wasilla Public works director, said despite all the money and effort involved in the case, which could top $2 million, he still believes the city was right to use eminent domain to acquire the property. The $2 million-plus includes purchasing the land, and paying court and attorney fees.

“It made the outcome more certain,” Giddings said, adding the land serves a valuable and vital public use.

Wasilla is responsible for paying Lundgren and other costs associated with the case, Klinkner said. The city has already issued a $175,000 payment to the court, bringing the award amount to about $830,000. The city is also responsible for paying Lundgren’s lawyer fees — an amount yet to be determined. Adding the amount council recently allocated, the city has so far committed more than $836,000 toward paying down the award.

Susan Colligan, the city’s finance director, said without knowing the total cost of the award after all the fees are tallied she is unsure what impact the final settlement will have on the city’s finances. Some budget adjustments may be needed ensure adequate funds are available, she said.

I must admit that I found refreshing the introduction of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Vice President for the Republican Presidential campaign. Drained out by the Hillary Clinton upset at the Democratic National Convention, and the fact that I do not like Senator Barack Obama as the presidential candidate, I am open to listen to other alternatives.

However, after learning about Gov. Palin, and the fact that she is a passionate Pro-Life/Hunter I am outraged by the contraction of passion. On one hand Gov. Palin saves all babies, including supporting her teenage daughter’s pregnancy, which I agree that is a private matter and nobody’s business. But, on the other hand, Gov. Palin allegedly has killed bears, and who knows what other innocent animals have died in her hands! I saw a picture of Gov. Palin sitting next to an innocent bear remains who is used as a sick sofa decoration! I have protested in front of former Maryland Republican Governor Ehrlich for allowing the kill of black bears in the state. One of the symbols the protest organizers used was a trophy innocent bear killed exactly like the one on Gov. Palin’s sofa. I protested again in front of the current Maryland Democratic Governor O’Malley for whom most of the protestors including me voted for with the misleading assurance that he would protect wildlife, and specially the black bears.

So, if Senator McCain would win and become the next U.S. President what is going to happen to our wildlife, and our environment? Would the millions of women who are animal protectionists vote for a hunter? What is the psychological profile of a hunter? What is the need to kill an innocent animal? Does Gov. Palin’s profile fit this profile?

SARAH PALIN HATES JEWS AND HER HUSBAND WANTED ALASKA TO SECEDE FROM THE UNITED STATES:

MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

They have an actual video tape of the sermon and her there. She herself hates jews. Yea they really vetted her, right.

---------
MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

Sarah Palin just needs to be herself, show the tough as nails hockey mom side, and make the washington insiders eat crow. MSNBC, CNN, NBC, and the New York Times will hate it and continue to harp on her family issues, because a strong conservative woman destroys the stereotype of a feminist having to be a pro-abortion democrat.

MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

Kingofzouf, wrong. First, getting the job is incredible. Got any comment on that! Oh some lie like affirmative action or some idiocy. Second, the President of the Law Review has to review and edit every piece, talk to the authors, make sure the whole thing makes sense regardless of the complexity of the material, and get his other editors and members of the Review to do their jobs (which he reviews) to get the issues of this highly respected periodical published. If you think the President of the Law Review at Harvard does nothing, you have no clue.

They interviewed his classmates on the Review at Harvard. They all had nothing but kudos for his intellect, hard work and his ability to cross the lines between the conservatives and liberals to have some of the most balanced Reviews in years. You are playing in the wrong ballpark here. Better go back to lapel pins or something like that.

I must admit that I found refreshing the introduction of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Vice President for the Republican Presidential campaign. Drained out by the Hillary Clinton upset at the Democratic National Convention, and the fact that I do not like Senator Barack Obama as the presidential candidate, I am open to listen to other alternatives.

However, after learning about Gov. Palin, and the fact that she is a passionate Pro-Life/Hunter I am outraged by the contraction of passion. On one hand Gov. Palin saves all babies, including supporting her teenage daughter’s pregnancy, which I agree that is a private matter and nobody’s business. But, on the other hand, Gov. Palin allegedly has killed bears, and who knows what other innocent animals have died in her hands! I saw a picture of Gov. Palin sitting next to an innocent bear remains who is used as a sick sofa decoration! I have protested in front of former Maryland Republican Governor Ehrlich residence for allowing the kill of black bears in the state. One of the symbols the protest organizers used was a trophy innocent bear killed exactly like the one on Gov. Palin’s sofa. I protested again in front of the current Maryland Democratic Governor O’Malley residence for whom most of the protestors including me voted for with the misleading assurance that he would protect wildlife, and specially the black bears.

So, if Senator McCain would win and become the next U.S. President what is going to happen to our wildlife, and our environment? Would the millions of women who are animal protectionists vote for a hunter? What is the psychological profile of a hunter? What is the need to kill an innocent animal? Does Gov. Palin’s profile fit this profile?

MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

You do know that they have a tape of her in church that come out today listening to a sermon advocating the destruction on Israel? She hates jews.
-----------

Masterful McCain. Allow the dim Libs to start talking about which church someone attends and what is said there. Most of us weren't paying attention last time around. and keep up the experience debate. We know how that will turn out.

Only let's cover both sides of the spectrum for once, unless the shortcomings of the left are too numerous to cover in the short time we have left.

Selecting Palin for the number two slot was a no-brainer. I'd say that normally Obama is right--family members should be off the table during an election cycle. That said, radical Republicans have made personal attacks on him, his wife, and his children. If you turn the other cheek, you got two bruised cheeks. Also, Palin and her family are not the Brady Bunch. It's more like the Beverly Hillbillies. Palin was a member of a secession political party and is being investigated for lying and abuse of power. Her husband was arrested for drunk driving. Her daughter is pregnant out of wedlock, and wingnut fundies usually condemn such family values (except when it's a fellow fundie involved.) Republicans are a little bit funny. They're saying that her daughter's pregnancy is OK, since humans make mistakes. Yeah, right. If Palin were a Democrat, they'd be on the situation like flies on turds.

MY MY MY MYMY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

Think how poor Hillary must feel.
Tonight, more people will experience Sarah's speech than any other in history, and Hillary should have been there.
It should have been she who lived in the White House, this time as POTUS.
But no, you guys had to go and nominate Barry and ruin everything.
Whooooooooooahhhhhhh!
Thank you, thank you thank you!
Now we'll have someone in the White House who prays to God instead of Karl Marx.

MY MY MY MY, MY THE WORLD TURNS. THERE IS A REPORT THAT THE CHURCH THAT SARAH PALIN BELONGS TO STATES THAT SHE SAT THROUGH A SERMON WHERE THE PASTOR SAID, "ISREAL DESERVES TERRORISM FOR BEING NON-BELIEVERS OF JESUS CHRIST." AS JEREMIAH WRIGHT SAID, "THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!!!"

Wow. Peggy Noonan, acknowledged by conservatives and liberals alike as a conservative genius, has said it's over.

=======================
It's Over -- I suggest you check out Ben Smith's blog over at Politico.com posted about an hour ago, describing how Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy trashed Palin and the McCain campaign on NBC when they thought the microphones were turned off:

"It's over," said Noonan, and then responded to a question of whether Palin is the most qualified Republican woman McCain could have chosen.

"The most qualified? No. I think they went for this — excuse me — political bullsh** about narratives," she said. "Every time Republicans do that ... because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at and they blow it."

Murphy chimed in:

"The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical."

All you Republicans can listen to this video clip and learn what your spinners are really thinking about Palin when they think the mikes are off.

Yahoo has this photo gallery of Palin. One photo shows Palin with a dead animal around her shoulder. Do we want a veep who is going to advocate killing animals for fur so that she can sport it over her shoulder? Animal rights activists should take a note of the following picture.

Does she represent all republicans? I don't think so. I am a republican, but I do not like hunting animals for sport or for their fur. She is conservative all right, but her education and values seem to be stuck in the 1800s.

--------------
The fact that Palin is a walking disaster aside, she is proving NOTHING with tonight's speech, as she will be reading the words that have been fed to her in that Minnesota hotel room over the past several days. The REAL Sarah Palin will appear when she is on the campaign trail and fielding questions directly from the press.

Masterful McCain. Allow the dim Libs to start talking about which church someone attends and what is said there. Most of us weren't paying attention last time around. and keep up the experience debate. We know how that will turn out.

Only let's cover both sides of the spectrum for once, unless the shortcomings of the left are too numerous to cover in the short time we have left.

OK, people, please do not believe the hype or go for the “okie-doke” from the Republicans. Nobody cares if this woman has five children, (I think she’s a MILF ;-) ), I do not care about her beliefs in “right to life”, nobody even care about her daughter being pregnant… the problem I have is that NOW it’s OK for children (and this girl is only 17) to be pregnant when before she came along as their goddess that would have an automatic claim to women voters it was a SIN to be pregnant and not married! So now today the spin is that the daughter and her boyfriend are getting married. To this I have two comments… SO DAMN WHAT and of course they are because the VP cannot have “bastard” children running around the White House.

So now (I wonder why) “Neo-Conservative America” is coming out of the closet, they put one foot out when Cheney had to admit that his daughter was gay and now this… not to mention all of the freaky (and disgusting) sex and drug scandals that have come to light, these people are true Hippocrates!

And Joe Lieberman… who is HE to judge anyone? This man changes allegiances faster than Karma Chameleon can change its color. Nobody talks about the conflict of interest by him being in Congress and his wife’s job as a lobbyist for the pharmaceuticals industry. He waffles back and forth “across the aisle” like the wagging tail of a dog and he calls that working together, he’ll only take a stand when he thinks that it will benefit him. I hope the people who keep electing him get what they deserve.

Palin is a stupid idiot with no experience or brains that believe Global Warning isn't real, that polar bears are no big deal and not endangered, that Medicare and social security checks should be stopped immediately and that George Bush is a hero. Screw her, her unwed pregnant teenager and the moose she rode in on.

"you would know that a person who has been President of the Harvard Law Review is qualified to have any job, including President, just by that credential"

Except for one very important fact. He did nothing while in the position - no papers, no articles, no positions, no scholarship, no opinions - nothing. Just like he ran his committee, his community organizer job, his lecturer position, all of them a total waste of a great potential.

Same as hs did in every other position he held. I guess he is still finding himself.

Why are Republicans so angry, they are just getting over 8 wonderful years under GW, the rich got richer, people wages went down, people are loosing homes and jobs are being shipped to India and China. Not to mention record profits for oil companies.

Wow when palin was picked i could not believe McCain picked such an inexperienced person. Now after doing a little research it looks to me that she is more qulified and experienced than Obama. This is a real awakening for me.

Wow...I am so sick of Republicans and McCain stragegists WHINING about the press coverage of Palin.

WHAT ELSE DID You expect when you pick a completely unknown candidate for the highest office in the LAND at the 11th hour??? She herself admits not having ANY IDEA what the VP does everyday!! This would be comical if it werent so serious!!

The media has an absolute DUTY to report EVERYTHING to the American people, just lke you have with Obama!!

I guarantee you the Rove Republicans NEVER would have said word one about the "Baby Mama" comments made to Michele...probably came from Rove himself.

I hope she talks about her WING-NUT WACKO ARMEGEDDON-SEEKING CHRUCH AND PASTOR!

Read up on her wacko church, read up on her attepts to ban books, read up on her abuse of power, and watch her video addressing the AKIP Political party affilliation (Alaskans for seccession from the US)

The sex photos are only just coming out - and I don't have a problem with them.

Hey, Barak Obama's Conscience, do you have any idea how smart you have to be to become the President of the Law Review of Harvard? There is no affirmative action to get you that position. It is voted by your classmates on the Review. They vote for the person who can best manage the finest publication on the law in the country (sorry Yale and Stanford, its true). If you had any idea what you were talking about, you would know that a person who has been President of the Harvard Law Review is qualified to have any job, including President, just by that credential. He has to be learned in the most complex areas of the law, conversant with the obligations of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. He has to be a scholar of the international arena since so much is written in the Law Review covers this area. Say what you will, try to undermine him if you can, but this guy is one of the smartest and most knowledgeable people of his generation. By the way, I went to another fine law school, was a senior editor on the Law Review and there is simply no comparison to what he acheived.

Now, the reason people don't talk about this on the Obama side is that people like you will go, "HA, what an elitist"! "Harvard, that bastion of east coast intellectualism and liberalism" (That bastion is really Yale, but who has time). Every parent in America would be proud of their child if they went to Harvard Law. This guy did it on student loans and sure didn't get in because his Daddy knew someone, the ultimate form of affirmative action, ask George Bush! So call him all the names you want. Sarah Palin and John McCain combined don't come near this guy in candle power. But if your Carl Rove, smart is evil. I mean if smart was a criterian for President, how could we have gotten George Bush?

Actually she has done something to personally harm at least 7 people that we know about. She has fired or forced to resign 6 civil servants as mayor and one as governor.

These were honest people, not politicians. They were also people whose livelihoods were destroyed because they stood in Palin's way, people like:

The Wasilla Head Librarian: Fired because she wouldn't Ban books that Palin found objectionable
The Wasilla Chief of Police: Fired because he supported closing bars at 2:00 AM rather than 5:00 AM, to prevent drunk driving accidents.
The Alaska Public Safety Commissioner: Fired because he refused to fire Palin's Ex-Brother in Law without just cause.

The list goes on...Palin was almost recalled as Wasilla mayor because she put her political gain above the well-being of public servants in the town who had only honest intentions.

She isn't being skewered in the media because she is a woman, she is being skewered in the media for being a terrible person who has left a huge trail of wreckage in her path.

It's Over -- I suggest you check out Ben Smith's blog over at Politico.com posted about an hour ago, describing how Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy trashed Palin and the McCain campaign on NBC when they thought the microphones were turned off:

"It's over," said Noonan, and then responded to a question of whether Palin is the most qualified Republican woman McCain could have chosen.

"The most qualified? No. I think they went for this — excuse me — political bullsh** about narratives," she said. "Every time Republicans do that ... because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at and they blow it."

Murphy chimed in:

"The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical."

All you Republicans can listen to this video clip and learn what your spinners are really thinking about Palin when they think the mikes are off.

I’m ashamed to be a democrat- I finally realized the Republicans are 100% correct. The democrats are a bunch of sniveling, intellectual do-gooders, who get bullied over and over again, and instead of fighting back, they make excuses for themselves out of some foolish moral necessity as they get tossed around like a wimpy kid in the school lunchroom. I hate wimps.

It is sickening and indefensible that Democrats are going to idly watch as the GOP spins Sarah Palin into some sort of hero of motherhood. This is a woman who:

is under investigation for abuse of power
wants to litigate sexuality for all of America but can not keep her own, underage daughter from getting knocked up.
jeopardizes her own baby’s health and the welfare of other passengers by flying for 8 hours while in labor
tried to ban books from her local library (yes, you read that correctly- ban books)
speaks to a church and says the killing in Iraq was God’s will
apparently would not mind if Alaska seceded from the union

Yes, these are the same worthless Democrats that let GWB spin his military experience, which he had to prove by showing he went to an air force dentist, to outshine Kerry’s service, even though he went and saw combat in Vietnam.
The democrats are worthless. If they cannot defend themselves how are they going to defend this country. I do not agree with anything on the Republican platform, but I respect the fact they have balls.

It is remarkable that rather than find solid ways to defend Palin, her proponents overwhelmingly choose to claw at the invisible bugs crawling under their skin.

The media -- and more significantly, citizen journalists and bloggers -- will back off when the McCain campaign lets Sarah talk to the media and answer questions.

For example, it would be ridiculously easy to grant a short interview to clear up rumors surrounding her son and daughter to get these poor kids out of the cross-hairs.

But like any hunter knows, you go after the weak and vulnerable targets...and Sarah Palin clearly wants to avoid becoming the main target as long as she can. (Better to be a grizzly bear's cub than one of her babies!)

I did look at my citation, apparently better than you did. "Anchorage Daily News" It was published when she was governor, before people were even talking about VPs. That publication is hardly bastion of mainstream liberal media, its local media. It also details absolutely embarrassing behavior by Palin that happens to be part of the public record. A recording of her laughing at her opponent like a cruel middle schooler for having had cancer and being overweight is made available as part of the article.

You should put your paranoia in check and check your sources before you go blaming a conspiracy in the "liberal media". I'm just an Alaskan who wants people to know that our governor is not fit to be VP.

Before Senator McCain made his VP announcement I was actually DEPRESSED!

As a former Republican, turned Independent, I lost all faith in America when Mitt Romney lost the nomination.

All of Obama's speeches were TERRIFYING me, as has the last two years with this Democrat controlled Congress!

When I heard the announcement it was Governor Sarah Pahlin, I actually CRIED!
And after her first and second speeches, I believed...this wonderful young woman (I am 65 years old) will someday be President of this horribly morally and politically SICK nation!

When people can believe that Obama is not a RACIST, "I could never relate to my white surroundings..." it made me so sick I called all of my Black friends and asked them if they had the feelings for white people that Obama was displaying in his bigotry toward the Clintons (I voted for him twice!) and they too could not believe how Blacks had turned on the Clintons..."for someone my color".

Governor Pahlin is the future model for all 4 of my granddaughters, and it gives me hope we can have the respected country before President Bush and this Congress.

If Palin is so bad and so terrible, why do you want to get rid of her so bad? why not let the thinking voters (aka - not you) decide that she is after all too loony for them. then you can win the election.

Detractors of Sarah Palin need to stop bringing up the "She hunts and kills/supports the hunting and killing of innocent animals!" argument.

It's not going to make even the slightest amount of headway with voters who are even minutely considering voting for her and John McCain; the only people who are really so very offended by the idea of hunting were never going to vote Republican to begin with, not even the ones who supported Hillary Clinton and think she was somehow wronged in her defeat at the hands of Barack Obama. Playing the "poor innocent animals" card -- and as hard as it may be to believe, I do not mean this as an insult -- just makes you look whiny to conservatives, independents and even moderate liberals. I think everyone can agree that association with people perceived as whiny does not do a political campaign any favors. In essence, by attempting to make that point, you only stand to lose appeal; you will gain none.

Good luck. As a very slightly left of centre voter, I have been shocked by the unfair treatment of this person. Gee I would love to see her do well, despite her opinions being fairly different to mine. She seems like someone who is working hard to accomplish what she believes in...it is terrible to tear someone down personally just because they have alternative view points.

Has she done anything significantly personally nasty to anyone? I don't think so. In fact, if elements of the media feel that it is important to report on not the candidate but their husbands drink driving conviction at the age of 22 (or so) wouldnt you love to see someone look into the history of that journalist and expose their hypocracy!. Anyone who has lived a normal life will have something that someone thinks they can hold against them. These irrelevancies do not have ANYTHING to do with someones capability of being a leader.

AND it is interesting to note that while the LEFT considers themselves the progressives, it is the right that produced many of the worlds most powerful women.

Why is everyone so scared of the soccer Mom?? I have never seen such a display of fear and chest beating from the far left. The answer is clear, one brief exposure last Friday on public TV and it is well known; she is the best for the job and brings a whole new era of solidarity to mainstream America.

One, considering that Alaska doesn't have much history to begin with--people in their 50's remember when it became a state--it isn't too difficult to be a "first" in Alaska 'government' when your popularity is based entirely on how fast you get those oil royalty checks dogsledded out to your couple-hundred-thousand residents, how much Federal pork-barrel largesse you slop up at the trough (despite claims to be against it, and in spite of all those oil royalties that ought to be paying for things instead of the taxes of the rest of us in civilized country), and how well you protect the muktuk whale blubber from marauding grizzlies who should KNOW better than to live within 200 miles of human habitation. The bar is set pretty low for Madame Palin, isn't it?

The other thing I'll point out is what Republicans have been desperately trying to say over the past several days: the TOP of the ticket is what's important. And by that measure, McCain has no more executive experience than Obama.

Shall we call it a draw and get back to the contest between personalities instead of issues, as the McCain campaign thinks the election will be decided upon? We all know that celebrities who fill 80-thousand seat stadiums and draw more viewers than the Olympic Games opening ceremonies have the personalities to draw MILLIONS of "whiners"...so it should be a foregone conclusion that the Geritol and Yukon Jack aren't going to be enough to win the game.

The Democrats are in a heap of trouble. McCain picking Palin was genius. As a Democrat myself, I wish it were otherwise. But it is not.

My wife's aunt is a liberal Democrat public school teacher from New York. Pro-choice. Pro gun control. She distrusts Obama and likes Palin and will vote for McCain.

My wife's friend is a lesbian. Liberal Democrat. Feminist. Pro-choice. She likes the idea of a woman VP and will vote for McCain.

If liberal Democratic women in the northeast are voting for McCain because of Palin, imagine what moderate and conservative women in the Midwest will do.

I hope it doesn't work out this way. But I think Obama is toast. Pandering to women is going to work. Not with everyone. But with enough women to tilt a close election in the battleground states to McCain.

The fact that Palin is a walking disaster aside, she is proving NOTHING with tonight's speech, as she will be reading the words that have been fed to her in that Minnesota hotel room over the past several days. The REAL Sarah Palin will appear when she is on the campaign trail and fielding questions directly from the press.

"He goes home every night from Washington to be a Father and Husband!"

Actually it's because he doesn't have two dimes to rub together. after all those years with that giant salary, he has only managed to piss it all away. can't even overnight in Dc like everyone else. check his financial report - zero net worth

I am a combat veteran, been to Iraq twice and the entire middle-east. That's twice as much as Palin. Probably going for a third in the next two years.

I have shot more guns than Palin and part of a bigger gun club than the NRA.
Semper Fi.

While Palin was obtaining a passport I was already leading squads through Iraq to fight terrorist. And haven't been caught by the enemy.

My family is in way better shape than Palin's, but the issues isn't about family, it's about experience, oh wait she doesn't' have any, so let's see judge her on how well she raises her family at least. Oh, yea, that's not good either.

Damn I have a lot of experienced for only being 27.

McCain's Policies are putting me in Iraq a third time, and with enough time on my contract I can probably get a Iran ribbon too. Wow that's another ribbon I don't want.

At least Obama will try to reduce my deployment times. Oh wait, why am I talking about the issue and how that affects thousands of families.

Oh I forget, I'm not a woman being used to influence women's vote because Hilary didn't win. So I won't be able to run this year, maybe in four years.

>>DFC102 wrote: "For weeks we've been witnessing the devolution of AsperGirl from a reasonably capable critic to a vindictive stereotype. In the interest of voting for a woman, she'll vote against the interests of all women. In defense of Hillary, she'll aim a missile at everything Hillary stands for."

I'm not interested in defending Hilary right now. I have no interest in what she "stands for". Hillary Clinton failed and stands for nothing, in part because she belongs to an organization in which she didn't have professional executive oxygen and respect.

There is nothing that is "in the interests of all women".

The Democrats have been holding women hostage with the boogeyman of Roe v. Wade long enough. The patronizing, suffocating inaction they have provided in areas like academic abuses of women (zero meaningful mechanism for enforcement of Title IX's facial sexual harassment protections, for example), glass ceilings, or other issues relevant to professional women.

Once in a while they sponsor some legislation regarding health care for babies or children, which is easy because who wants to vote against that? Or they might fight for some law relevant to some incremental labor dispute relevant to female factory workers.

Where is any progress even on the abortion front? Where are the dramatic moves for a right to privacy constitutional amendment that enables people to be free from electronic health record privacy violations and that would protect people from being invasively controlled in their medical decisions, like abortion, from state intrusion? Where are the facilities and help with information, logistics and support for poor women seeking help with pregnancies?

The Democrats have been happy to let the Roe v. Wade inane tug of war continue year after year because they hold women's votes hostage to the issue, by threatening the Republican boogeyman who will come and overturn it.

If Roe gets overturned, all that means is that some states will ban abortion and some states will be "free" states. In today's Internet, information-based society, it would take one week and a few hundred dollars to figure out how to get an abortion, no matter where one is. Anyone with Internet access (like at the public library) and a little money would be able to navigate that maze.

And Nancy Pelosi is welcoming anti-abortion lawmakers into Democratic ranks and getting them elected, anyways.

There is no tradeoff or benefit that the Democrats credible offer professional women that is worth the woman's vote being held hostage by the boogeyman of Roe v. Wade.

With the party being taken over by left-wing, racist, sexist, immature C-average liberal arts losers from DailyKos, who force their inferior candidates ahead of the more qualified ones and who are forcing the Democrats farther into an immature, devolved left wing ideology, who needs that trash?

Hillary Clinton doesn't "stand for" anything monolithic. The Clintons clearly made some deal with Obama, like an HHS appointment or something. The damage done to professional women memes this year by Democrats is unforgivable.

The Democratic Party is unacceptable for professional women who are liberal arts loonies and ivory tower academic idealists, or social workers or socialists. You can keep your low-class, trashy misogyny and your threats of Roe v. Wade boogeymen.

LEARN NOT TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It's annoying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are poor starving kids in India who don't even have a caps button on their worn out keyboards sent to them from the US by the Bill gates Foundation.

And all you can worry about is whether we type in caps because it annoys you?

Try to show a little humility for the children of the world. Try to show some compassion for those who aren't as privliged as you.

By now, all the liberal media, progressive (radical left) and liberal Democrats have drafted their comments for tomorrow's blog on Palin's speech tonight. Following are the excerpts that you will read tomorrow in their blogs and columns:

1. Palin can't even read the speech written for her.
2. Palin is an idiot.
3. Palin is a right wing facist.
4. Palin is from a trailer park.
5. Palin is corrupt.
6. Palin is uneducated because she did not attend an elite eastern university.
7. Palin is a moron.
8. Palin is a hypocrite.
9. Palin is totally unqualfied to be the Vice President and showed it tonight ( oops- last night )
10. Palin is a phony.
11. Palin was only chosen to play to the radical right evangelical extreme of the Republican Party.
12. Palin is scary and acave woman.

For those who are preparing your blog for tomorrow, before Palin speaks, did I quote you correctly and accurately?

Wake up America! John McBush and Sarah McPalin are not what they appear to be... they will, if elected, serve as "figure heads" for the power mongers ( "big oil" drug companies etc. ) and will be used by these Corporations for selfish purposes related to staying in power at the Whitehouse! Sarah McPalin was a perfect candidate for the oil mongers that want to drill in Alaska's Artic National Wildlife Refuge!!! The greedy oil also has it's eye's on the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming! I'm positive that she has absolutely NO respect for wildlife and you are encouraged to check that fact PLEASE! If she is vice Pres. she will be such a great cronie for the "BIG OIL" and WATCH OUT POLAR BEARS!! This woman has NO respect for Gods Creatures at all! Gandi said "you can judge a nation by the way it treates it's animals"! Well, Sarah is NO GANDI!! AMERICAN'S WAKE UP!!The Bush Administration is trying to RETURN through these two "figure heads"!! John McCain dosen't have to be "in touch", Sarah dosn't have to be "aware of foreign affairs" etc. because Cheney, Bush or one of the power hungry people from this administration will be there to assist at doing what those with the money WANT TO DO with America the Beautiful!

I forgot to add, I am only saying this because it is already being promoted on the Enquirer website. I would not give it away otherwise, he would never talk to me again. I will say, he said it is a game ender, they better get Mitt Romney warming up in the bullpen.

=======
I just got a text message from my brother. he is a photographer for the Enquirer. They have the goods and it is good. They have been in Alaska for several days now. What they have involves family members. You already know about the brother in law and there is no love loss there. Well he is talking as well as others. Lets just say:
"SEX LIES AND ROCK & ROLL" in Alaska.
He said it is crazy up there. News people from all over the world are everywhere. He said this is the first time they have had to compete with CNN for a story but they have it locked up though.

That's cute: the loony-left media giving Palin advice on what to say!!

That's too hilarious for words.

Like rabid dogs, the democrat misogynists are attacking yet another woman with the same savagery they used on Hillary. As before, they are being supported 100% by the liberal media, led by msnbc with their chief woman-hater and tax cheat, olbermann.

This slimebag behavior shows that the loony-left has NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE to OFFER - just smears and hysterical mud-slinging.

Governor Palin is EXACTLY who she is and no
amount of public speaking, by herself or
others, will change the facts.

I have been insulted by the last almost 8
years by a Republican Administration that
has warped the American Nation to FIT their
purpose. The have run roughshod over our
Constitution and ruined our world standing
and reputation by engaging our armed forces
in a military campaign against a nation
that was not a threat to us(Iraq) instead
of concentrating our forces on the very
REAL threat to our security posed by
those Islamic fundamentalist forces train-
ing and residing in Afghanistan.
And to do this they orchestrated a campaign of lies and deceit that continues
today...and the final insult to us is the
current Republican ticket, including someone(Palin) who has absolutely no
foreign policy experience and the SLIMMEST
political resume I have EVER SEEN in a
NATIONAL election...
and the Republican talking heads
CONTINUE the "EMPORER'S NEW CLOTHES"
argument of "she is the governor of Alaska
which is right next to Russia giving her
experience in foreign relations".
What an insult to the American people and
to ME, a citizen of this great country.

Joe Biden is the concrete embodiment of the word 'Father' he was willing to give up his Senate seat for his kids because they lost their mother and sister and Joe lost a wife and daughter in a tragic accident! He goes home every night from Washington to be a Father and Husband! Sarah Palin isn't in the same league as Joe Biden when it comes to being a parent!

I just got a text message from my brother. he is a photographer for the Enquirer. They have the goods and it is good. They have been in Alaska for several days now. What they have involves family members. You already know about the brother in law and there is no love loss there. Well he is talking as well as others. Lets just say:
"SEX LIES AND ROCK & ROLL" in Alaska.
He said it is crazy up there. News people from all over the world are everywhere. He said this is the first time they have had to compete with CNN for a story but they have it locked up though.

Don, your comments about Obama's experience show that you haven't been following the election very much. Please visit barackobama.com and revise your post.

As for this article, I mostly agree. Look, Palin is a good speaker. Watch some of her old speeches on youtube. She will connect to voters and give McCain a chance to turn this debacle of a convention around. They have definitely lost points to Dems in the last two weeks, but a good speech will allow for damage control.

ANSWER: Read short sentences without any big words and pander to the inferiority complex of the sheep who feel she is just like them (i.e. would never have a prayer to be VP based on the normal requirements).

Palin reminds me of Chris Rock's character in the movie "Head of State," which uses a preposterous situation to make a satirical point. Palin's nomination shows McCain is treating our future like a complete joke -- but one that could last for at least four years!

What myth Obama has raised more money than any other candidate in the history of the U.S.A., More people have donated to the Obama campaign than any other campaign in history, he has received more votes in a primary season than any other candidate in history, Obama is the first African American to be nominated to a major party in American history, He with Senator Coburn passed the toughest ethics reform in American history, he again worked across party line to pass a loose nukes security bill with Dick Luger (r) Ind. He helped and co sponsored a real 21st century GI bill with Senator Jim Webb(D) Virginia (McBush voted against the bill), He ran a campaign for Senate were he spoke out against the Iraq war when people were savaged by the Rove/McCain/Bush machine for doing so but he won a Republican Senate in Illinois, He has drawn more people to hear him speak on the issues concerning America than any politician in American History, He has drawn more people in foreign countries to hear him speak on Global issues than any politician in American history, he has built a consensus around his middle east foreign policy position even the Bush Admin. has cooped his middle east foreign policy(only one that hasn't is McCain) I could go on and on ......Obama/Biden IT'S TIME!

First of all I'd like to say is Palin she is very attractively people by her strong polictic personality but I myself think of she has to be a good mom better than being an actress on stage of polictical place. Another thing I wanna say is Republican party such as a place for whitelie politician doing perfomance on the stage trying to blackout people by using their power as a rich person. Don't do that on selecting a leadershif of commander over the nation to hurt midclass of people.

Ok washington post what about it? Are you afraid of being called liberal media? Or are you afraid of being called sexist? Which is it? After hearing and reading how she stopped "the bridge to no where" I want to know when your reporters are going to stand up and ask Mrs Palin What happened to the money that came from $223 million to $454 million "bridge to no where project."
The republicans were in charge of the House at the time so when she said no thanks, instead of $223 MILLION DOLLARS she got $454 MILLION DOLLARS to keep....Oh I'm sorry washpost, I forgot they have been keeping Mrs Palin under lock and key.

(1) is hotter than me
(2) has a better smile and personality than me
(3) has a higher popularity in her state than me

(4) gives a great damn speech
(5) has mayor of a small town against my "community organizer"
(6) has council member, mayor and governor against my resume
(7) has a disabled, adorable baby
(8) wasn't created by a drunken, polygamist, already-married father who then abandoned her teenaged mother
(9) got ahead with hard work and achievement instead of affirmative action and racial preferences
(10) has an actual political philosphy and approach that is distinctly hers
(11) has a record of action that she can point to, to define her leadership priorities and character

(12) man! she's a better basketball player than me!

What can I do? Hey, I killed my giant, Hillary Clinton, by destroying her personal narrative, and invoking misogyny an sexism to unleash a torrent of contempt, spite and ridicule on her as a person and professional.

I will destroy the woman's reputation and image.. Michelle, get MSNBC and DailyKos on speakerphone!

I really liked and recommend Fred Hiatt's take on this which resonates with a refreshing intellectual honesty that might actually cause me to hope for the first time in a long time that the rehabilitation of this paper as the fourth estate might just be possible. She'll be reading from a teleprompter a speech that somebody else invented. That's not leadership.

And the so-called Democratic "feminists" stood by silent
Obsessing over Clinton's sexuality with jokes and ridicule
Mainstream media covered Clinton's cleavage, pantsuits and thighs
Obama supporters pushed Chelsea about her father's sexuality at forums
Calling Chelsea Clinton "pimped out" by her parents
Every week finding some new demeaning stereotype to hang on her: "first wife", "mother in law", "vampirella" and on and on

DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS IS AN INTERNALLY CONTRADICTORY

The Democratic party, when it comes to female executive treatment, is a place where women can go to be second class professionals expected to defer to the men, who have no voice or authority except when they use it to support the males' agendas.

What a bunch of impotent, uncle-tom females those Democratic women are!

The reason why feminism appeared to have stalled for all these decades was because we were paying attention to the Democrats, not the Republicans.

Those Republican women rock! That press conference they gave today was awesome!

Sarah Palin rocks!

Democratic women are tools of their party, affectations and appendages.

"Shut up and get on board", indeed!

Posted by: AsperGirl | September 3, 2008 3:06 PM

//

Well, it's official.

For weeks we've been witnessing the devolution of AsperGirl from a reasonably capable critic to a vindictive stereotype. In the interest of voting for a woman, she'll vote against the interests of all women. In defense of Hillary, she'll aim a missile at everything Hillary stands for.

Palin's female, and that makes her completely correct and acceptable, even as she seeks to undo the advancements made by feminists in the last forty years. She's anti-choice, pro-censorship, and very clearly inferior to the accomplished women of the party such as Hutchinson, Fiorina, Rice, Dole, and Snowe, and still...AsperGirl is ready to hand her the reins, because she's female.

"Democratic women are tools of their party, affectations and appendages."

The comparisons of Palin to Obama are quite silly. Obama's budget experience: nil. Palin manages an 11 billion dollar state. Obama executive/leadership experience: nil, he has never even lead a Senate committie. Palin has had decision making power in at least 3 positions. Obama's energy experience: nil. Palin has negotiated a $40 billion international pipeline project. Obama's reform experience: nil. Palin has refused the bridge to nowhere and to cleaned up oil/political corruption and sent residents a $1200 check from renegotiated oil royalties. Obama's experience with the military: nil. Palin is in charge of the Alaska State Defense Force and the State Police, not to mention she has several U.S. bases in her jurisdiction. The comparisons are not close. Obama is a fabricated contender. Palin is a real leader. If you cannot see the difference then you are a kool-aid drinker and not really in touch with reality or the facts.

Palin can be expected to deliver a forceful speech full of red meat, one that's perfectly in harmony with the McCain message and the attacks that the GOP has launched against Barack Obama. How can we be sure? Because she's not delivering her speech, she's delivering a speech that was pre-written for someone else by McCain's staff.

Sitting around a dining room table, the McCain team has talked to her about Iraq, energy and the economy, but has focused on what she should say in her speech, struggling almost as hard as she has to prepare for what will be, along with a debate in October, her main opportunity to shape the way she is viewed by voters. Not anticipating that McCain would choose a woman as his running mate, the speech that was prepared in advance was "very masculine," according to campaign manager Rick Davis, and "we had to start from scratch."

Here's McCain's own campaign manager confirming that Palin was a last minute choice, and that the original speech was written for someone else. Right now, they're sitting at that table with the diced up remains of a speech that was originally written for Romney or Pawlenty and putting a dress on it.

It would be interesting to see what the before and after versions of the speech look like. What will be missing from the revised speech? What parts of the speech did the Republicans find so "masculine" that they just couldn't let their VP pick deliver them? Just the fact that they're busily putting pink paint on a speech designed before McCain threw his Hail Mary Right Wing pass shows what they really think about Palin, and about women in general. Unless the speech was full of references to jock straps, just what was in it that Palin couldn't say? Really, how sexist is it to describe a political speech as "very masculine?" Maybe they were hoping to give the former VP-candidate a jump on a career peddling male enhancement tablets.

Don't worry, the final draft will include plenty of direct appeals to women voters. There will be a big dollup of how Palin takes the kids to hockey practice and is the absolute personification of the mom America loves. But if you hear Palin mention something about her history as an entrepreneur, or drift into her experience as governor of Minnesota, don't be too surprised. After all, there no mention of Palin bringing any ideas of her own to this speech.

After reading the derogatory attacks and comments by WaPo, Sally Quinn, et al I have made my mind up. I was sitting on the fence, trying to educate myself on Obamanation kool-aid or McCain Train. Now I know. As a mainstream, single mom working in a male dominated field .... I stand by the strong woman who is being attacked.

Anonymous wrote:
"I am voting for Obama for what
I believe is superior judgement and foresight."

ARE YOU SERIOUS?????

1.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, giving thousands of dollars, and twenty years, to a racist pastor spreading hate on the southside of Chicago. Also, Obama has his family sit under this hatemonger. BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

2.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, is friends with an unrepentant terrorist, Bill Ayers, and raises money with this despicable character. BAD JUDGMENT!!!

BTW, Will Ayers have access to the White House if Obama succeeds in this scam?

3.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, thinks Iran is a tiny country and not a serious threat. BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

4.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, wanted to RETREAT-IN-DEFEAT when things weren't going well in Iraq. No country would risk a future military partnership with America if they cannot count on a commitment by America. EXTREMELY BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

5.) Far-left radical Obama not only is for partial birth abortions, he is for allowing infanticide if it is in conjunction with an abortion procedure. EVIL JUDGMENT!!!!!

OBAMA - a few months in the US Senate and he thinks he is presidential material....EGOMANIAC!!!

^^^ What if Obama's Conscience Spoke at the Same Time He Did? ^^^
^^^ Annotated transcript of Obama's Nomination Acceptance Speech ^^^

>>"Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story -- of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to."

--Four years ago, I laid a big one on you out of my fictionalized life story that I made about my drunken, polygamist, already-married Kenyan father who knocked up my then-17-year-old mother and then abandoned us.

>>"It is that promise that has always set this country apart -- that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well."

--And where people like me can get ahead on racial preference and affirmative action, so that we advance without ever actually doing anything resembling hard work and sacrifice like you people!

>>"It is why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive."

--And support my undeserved advancement and also pay for my racial preference scholarships and all the gravy train that has come my way over the years! The donations of millions of african american supporters -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- paid my campaign the $6 million that it cost to move my nominating night event from the Pepsi arena to Invesco field for my Greco-Roman crowning!

>>"We meet at one of those defining moments -- a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more."

--And the Democratic party is nominating a president with no experience or qualifications that might make him a credible executive!! I couldn't get hired to run a factory!! Ha Ha!

>>"Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach"

--And yet you have sent $400 million to my presidential campaign! That I keep spending on helping the voters get to know me better! As if that's the problem! What suckers!

*************************
In David Mendell's 2007 biography, Obama, it was reported that Obama was a B student whose grades slipped so far below a B at High School that in his final year his grandmother feared he would not get into a university. The chapter ends with him being accepted into Occidental on a full scholarship.

The NYT has published a letter written by Obama in 1990, that discusses his own experiences with affirmative action.

Ouch! - look at your citation. Any reporter that refers to the supporters of the Governor as "Palinbots" is by definition biased and unfit to accurately report the news. Another example of left-wing bias permeating the media.

PROFILE OF SARAH PALIN
by Alaskan John Smith of Wasilla, AK who has known Sarah Palin since 1972
“SARAH PALIN IS A RED NECK”
September 02, 2008

My fellow Americans:

As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that he picked her.

The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snowmobiles. She is a lifetime member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites.

She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has "green" policies. The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.

Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade. Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about.

These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness, they're happy. I wish I were exaggerating.

Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal. She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't close to the scandal of Ted Stevens' corruption, it shows that Palin isn't "squeaky clean" and causes me to think there ay be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care.

When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren't so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.

In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice ofPalin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain's judgment. While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.

I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.

the democrats were segregationists from 1800 to 1965. They fought every civil rights proposal. They were the majority of Clansmen in the KKK.

Marting Luther King was a Republican.

Look it up.

Posted by: segregation | September 3, 2008 4:24 PM

Uh... and your point is? Oh, I get it. Since the 1960s the Democratic party has reversed its ugly history and has now nominated a black man for President. While the Republican party, since the 1960s, has welcomed the Klansmen left behind by the Democrats. I get it now!

^^^ What if Obama's Conscience Spoke at the Same Time He Did? ^^^
^^^ Annotated transcript of Obama's Nomination Acceptance Speech ^^^

"Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story -- of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to."

--Four years ago, I laid a big one on you out of my fictionalized life story that I made about my drunken, polygamist, already-married Kenyan father who knocked up my then-17-year-old mother and then abandoned us.

"It is that promise that has always set this country apart -- that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well."

--And where people like me can get ahead on racial preference and affirmative action, so that we advance without ever actually doing anything resembling hard work and sacrifice like you people!

"It is why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive."

--And support my undeserved advancement and also pay for my racial preference scholarships and all the gravy train that has come my way over the years! The donations of millions of african american supporters -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- paid my campaign the $6 million that it cost to move my nominating night event from the Pepsi arena to Invesco field for my Greco-Roman crowning!

"We meet at one of those defining moments -- a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more."

--And the Democratic party is nominating a president with no experience or qualifications that might make him a credible executive!! I couldn't get hired to run a factory!! Ha Ha!

"Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach"

--And yet you have sent $400 million to my presidential campaign! That I keep spending on helping the voters get to know me better! As if that's the problem! What suckers!

*************************
In David Mendell's 2007 biography, Obama, it was reported that Obama was a B student whose grades slipped so far below a B at High School that in his final year his grandmother feared he would not get into a university. The chapter ends with him being accepted into Occidental on a full scholarship.

The NYT has published a letter written by Obama in 1990, that discusses his own experiences with affirmative action.

I have worked with the Obama campaign on a local level since December and have met and spoken with Obama numerous times. Anyone who thinks Obama is not prepared for the office of president does not know Barack Obama. I don't think the campaign has spoken about it, although there have been articles written, maybe because it may have seemed kind of presumptive doing all this so many months before he even had the nomination, but that is not how Obama works.
Little is left to chance. So here is what the deal is:

Does Obama have the experience to be president, is he ready? It would be hard to say anyone is ready to be president, but what prepares one for the job?

Obama has been getting ready when his nomination was still no more then a dream. Obama has an advisory staff of over a 300. Most all are the top people in their fields. 4 of his staff are the top people on middle east politics in the world. He has numerous people on pretty much everything you could think of from global warming to world economics to energy and foreign policy to the military. Generals to scholars you name it, he has been working with these people for more then a year. Obama is a brilliant man, who easily knows more right now then any candidate who ever ran for the office of president. He is so up to speed it is astounding. John Mccain does not know or grasp a fraction of what Obama does. Mccain is in effect, a dinosaur, compared to Obama now. Mccain has no real practical experience or understanding in many of these areas at all. Just being in Washington for many years does not necessarily make you an expert nor knowledgeable in "Anything".
Bill Clinton said it best when he said,
"No one is really prepared to be president".
He was right and Obama understood that better then anyone long before he even began his journey for the presidency. So for over a year he has been quietly preparing. Like anything such as being a doctor or lawyer or any profession, your first introduction is academic, you go to school. Obama will by no means be learning on the job, he has been in school for more then a year. When enters office, Obama will be the most well prepared and ready president to ever walk into the white house.
He will also be surrounded by the finest staff ever assembled by any president in history.

If you do not want to vote for Barack Obama I can respect that, but by no means think he is not ready to be president. He will be the most ready man to ever win the office.

Thanks for listening
A Florida Obama worker

========
THE THIN RESUME, SHALLOW EXPERIENCE OF A NARCISSIST

Obama is a freshman senator in the U.S. senate and has been mainly engaged in running for president since his first year. What is his past professional history?

Obama got a "community organizer" job after 2 years of unemployment after graduating from Columbia with a bachelor's degree. That "community organizer" included lame stuff like trying to get protests together and get yards cleaned up.

And as his book admits, he didn't get anywhere as a "community organizer" and that's why he went back to law school.

And as we all know, after graduating from law school, Obama failed to make partner at his law firm, set no precedents in cases he might have handled, didn't get published in any law review and didn't produce any scholarly or professional works of any nature contributing to the field of law.

Obama's probably the only politician in the U.S. to not accomplish a single thing with an ivy league law degree before going into politics.

In going into politics as a Illinois state senator, Obama never even really won a contested election, but got his state senate seat by using tricks and legal moves to get opponents disqualified, and he had opponents conveniently implode for him.

Obama's years as a state senator in Illinois is so empty of any leadership that he voted "present" 130 times to avoid taking stands on "controversial legislation" (as if there were 130 career-killing controversial laws he had to take a pass on at the state level, come on!) and yet no one noticed his failure to take a lead.

Obama has contributed nothing to his profession and his only achievements are those that involve his ability to advance his own status and promote himself.

Obama has never published journal article in any law review, collaborated on any professional project, engaged in no landmark signature legislation, or made any tangible, substantial contribution of any nature to his profession as a lawyer or politician at any time since graduating with an ivy league law degree.

The only tangible works Barack Obama produced in his life are 2 fictionalized books about himself, glorifying his search for identity and his alcoholic, polygamous, already-married Kenyan father who was a failed Muslim communist (?) that knocked up his then-17-year-old mother and then abandoned them.

Since the speech is being written for her by the campaign and, indeed, seems to have been written even before the VP pick as they say they have to change the "masculine" character, why would this rveal much of anything about Palin herself, and her own background?

Obama earned his way onto the ballot by defeating the most savvy political machine in history the Clinton machine! Sarah Palin will be appointed tonight John McCain's coronation will be tomorrow! Big woop!

What does she have to do tonight? Not spit up, lose her place or fall down. The expections for a speech were never so high than for Obama's speech and so low for Palin's speech. She has been incommunicado for 2 days practicing every line and delivery of whatever they have written for her. It doesn't matter what she says. The Republican's will go nuts and say she is Joan of Arc! Just don't spit on the prompter Sarah and you will be fine.

What I am really looking forward to is when she has her soon to be son-in-law is up there with her and McCain. What is she going to say? Thank you very much for having unprotected sex with my underage daughter? You are representative of everything we want our young people to be although it would be nice if you finished high school. What is really interesting is why this guy is going to be on stage at all? I mean if she was so proud to be a grandmother and so proud of her daughter's decision to have this baby, why didn't she say so when McCain introduced her? Why didn't he say "and with Sarah is her daughter who I am proud to say is 17 years old and 5 months pregnant and here is the proud father? Why did they have the daughter hold the DS baby with the blanket over her stomach to hide that she was pregnant? Shouldn't the father have been holding the baby? If there is a reason Levi is there now, he should have been there before unless, of course, they were trying to hide it for a while so they could manipulate it for political reasons. No, it couldn't be that. And, what kind of power hungry, self-centered person would put two young people through this? As far as I am concerned it is child abuse.

It is hilarious to see McCain and Republicans scream about the press asking questions about Palin both as a politician and a person. They actually said they will not answer any more questions about her background! That the evil media has been too hard on her! Are you kidding me? This is the big leagues and if Palin can't take this, we better know it now before she has to stand up to Putin. They scoured every detail of Obama, Barak and his wife Michelle, for 18 months and the Republicans urged them along. No one knew anything about Palin 4 days ago. She didn't go through the gaunlet of a campaign so everything she would have been asked over a year is now going to be asked in 60 days thanks to McCain. Let's see what her preacher preached. Let's see what earmarks she asked for her town. Let's hear how she promised the people of Alaska they would get the "highway to nowhere", then reniged. Let's hear how she said "Thanks but no thanks" to the highway, but kept the federal funds that had been earmarked for it. Oh yeah, let's not forget the coincidence about her firing the person who wouldn't fire her ex-brother in law. Right, no political pressure put on anybody (ah, but we have a tape). And, let's hear that while she is proud of her daughter's "decision" to continue this pregnancy, she wants to deny this right to a "decision" to every other young woman in America even if the pregnancy is due to rape or incest.

Finally, I think the Republicans, McCain and Palin should simply stop lying about her background. Over an over again they say she had been the mayor or a "city" for 8 years. Sounds impressive. But, a "city" is defined as "A center of population, commerce, and culture; a town of significant size and importance". What do you think? Calling it a "city" a bit over the top? Someone trying to mislead someone? But Carl Rove never saw a voter he couldn't lie to and neither did George Bush. McCain and Palin have good teahers.

You mention she must show she can assume the role of CIC after a small stint as governor of Alaska and mayor of a small town. I ask...what kind of experience does the person who demands to be CIC have after a few years in the Illinois state senate and a couple years as a junior senator?

I am voting for Obama for what
I believe is superior judgement and foresight. Two necessary ingredients to be a successful CIC. I don't believe McCain has either of these qualities. Otherwise he would be a fine CIC.

Palin is a total unknown quantity in this respect. Not wise to gamble here with the potential of her becoming the president. For McCain to take that gamble (and lets be honest with each other, he really knows little about her) indicates he doesn't understand the gravity of his choice or he doesn't care.

I believe he cares about all these things. That isn't the issue. I just don't think his judgement indicates very well thought out long range understanding of many issues.

I didn't say ALL Christians,, just the ones I work with. Our concern is helping those that need help, regardless of personal beliefs. My point was that we don't get any attention, unlike our evangelical "brothers and sisters". We don't try to force pseudo-science like "Creationism" down the throats of children. We believe in building bridges to other communities of faith to promote cooperation and understanding. It's really too bad that the evangelical fringe of Christianity seems to garner all the attention in this country.

I wonder if she'll talk about which books she'd like to ban from the Library of Congress . . .

from NY Times . .
>>>>>>

Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question.

Ann Kilkenny, a Democrat who said she attended every City Council meeting in Ms. Palin’s first year in office, said Ms. Palin brought up the idea of banning some books at one meeting. “They were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her,” Ms. Kilkenny said.

The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, pledged to “resist all efforts at censorship,” Ms. Kilkenny recalled. Ms. Palin fired Ms. Emmons shortly after taking office but changed course after residents made a strong show of support. Ms. Emmons, who left her job and Wasilla a couple of years later, declined to comment for this article.

In 1996, Ms. Palin suggested to the local paper, The Frontiersman, that the conversations about banning books were “rhetorical.”

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

----

Good grief, what is more important to you...have a CIC with no experience in foreign affairs or a possible CIC with no experience? At least Sarah has dealt with Canada and Russia on some level.

And why would you entrust nukes to Obama when he is a lover of a reverend who spews nothing but hatred? I guess you are wishing for the earth to be scortched.

First of all, I should say that I think that Governor Palin is appalling. No question. But I think that it would be a mistake to dismiss her as a lightweight and non-starter for the job. In fact, as George Lakoff points out in an internet essay "The Palin Choice," she should be taken very seriously, as people vote on the basis of image and spin, not reality. (The Republicans cannot win using reality. But they can win using spin.)

After getting over my pique at her nomination, I began to realize that any effort to analyze her candidacy should be based entirely on the positions that she has taken and represents. The fact that she is also unqualified for the job and is an insult to feminists everywhere is (almost entirely) irrelevant.

My current rapidly growing list of her positions that I do NOT agree with includes:

- She denies that mankind has affected global warming (anti-science)
- She promotes the teaching of creationism (anti-science)
- She favors abstinence-only sex education (the scientific evidence shows that it is not effective, and I do not mean her daughter; she is anti-science)
- She opposes placing polar bears on endangered species list
- She favors drilling for oil in Alaska's wildlife refuges
- She placed a bounty on wolves, which is questionably legal at best; she approves hunting wolves from airplanes
- She is pro-gun and has no experience with gun issues outside of the wild west of Alaska
- She is associated with far-right political groups, through her husband (a member of the American Independence Party, a separatist group)
- She poses as anti-big-government but brought $27 million in federal money to her town of Wasillia
- She poses as anti-corruption but accepted donations from the same corrupt oil industry groups as Ted Stevens (now under indictment for it)
- She poses as "against" the famous "Bridge To Nowhere," but she accepted and kept the federal appropriation for the bridge (without ever building it)
- She has used her power for personal goals; she is vindictive; she asked for the resignations of all of the town department heads who had not supported her; Troopergate
- She has a bad environmental record

You will note that I am NOT emphasizing her tissue-thin resume and experience. I think that would be playing into the McCain camps' trap, i.e., to make the election about experience. Also, I am content to leave her family (largely) out of it, except in so far as we encounter direct hypocrisy. For example, Palin cut Alaskan appropriations for services for pregnant teens. I wonder how that will play out in interviews. I look forward to seeing her when she is off of the scripts that has been prepared for her.

Anyway, after reflecting on Governor Palin's nomination for awhile, I concluded that I could, indeed, find another $1000 or two to donate to the Obama campaign. As he said in his acceptance speech, this is too big - too important - an election for small politics. And as far as I can figure out, Governor Palin's nomination is all about small politics.

Obama is a freshman senator in the U.S. senate and has been mainly engaged in running for president since his first year. What is his past professional history?

Obama got a "community organizer" job after 2 years of unemployment after graduating from Columbia with a bachelor's degree. That "community organizer" included lame stuff like trying to get protests together and get yards cleaned up.

And as his book admits, he didn't get anywhere as a "community organizer" and that's why he went back to law school.

And as we all know, after graduating from law school, Obama failed to make partner at his law firm, set no precedents in cases he might have handled, didn't get published in any law review and didn't produce any scholarly or professional works of any nature contributing to the field of law.

Obama's probably the only politician in the U.S. to not accomplish a single thing with an ivy league law degree before going into politics.

In going into politics as a Illinois state senator, Obama never even really won a contested election, but got his state senate seat by using tricks and legal moves to get opponents disqualified, and he had opponents conveniently implode for him.

Obama's years as a state senator in Illinois is so empty of any leadership that he voted "present" 130 times to avoid taking stands on "controversial legislation" (as if there were 130 career-killing controversial laws he had to take a pass on at the state level, come on!) and yet no one noticed his failure to take a lead.

Obama has contributed nothing to his profession and his only achievements are those that involve his ability to advance his own status and promote himself.

Obama has never published journal article in any law review, collaborated on any professional project, engaged in no landmark signature legislation, or made any tangible, substantial contribution of any nature to his profession as a lawyer or politician at any time since graduating with an ivy league law degree.

The only tangible works Barack Obama produced in his life are 2 fictionalized books about himself, glorifying his search for identity and his alcoholic, polygamous, already-married Kenyan father who was a failed Muslim communist (?) that knocked up his then-17-year-old mother and then abandoned them.

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain was privileged, given everything by both parents, and worked for nothing.

Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama grew up poor, raised by his Irish-American single white mother and Irish-American white working class maternal grand parents. Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama was given nothing and worked for everything.

Education

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain was a D student and graduated last in his class. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain and McBush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire share failed academic records. He partied constantly and dependent on favor handouts from his high ranking father and grandfather. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain earned nothing on his own similar to McBush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain is also Internet illiterate which slows down his information processing capacity. Is this good for the country?

Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama worked hard and became PRESIDENT OF THE HARVARD LAW REVIEW. Everything that Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama accomplished he did on his own. Irish-American Barack Obama’s HARVARD Scholarship ranks among the best. Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama’s hard work represents the American Dream.

Community Service

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain poor studies translated into poor performances in the military where he crashed several planes and recklessly endangered the lives of others. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain was never trusted by his colleagues nor loved by his peers. The highlight of D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain’s career was getting shot down and becoming a prisoner. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain served his country by getting handouts from his guards. Getting handouts seems to be D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain’s modem of operations. WillObscenelyRich McCain, who finished 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy and who lost five jets, return competence to the White House? To lose one plane over Vietnam may be a heroic tragedy; to lose five planes here and there is carelessness.

Irish-American Barack Obama turned down large profits after graduating from HARVARD LAW to serve the community in Chicago where help was needed most. The community learned to trust and love Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama for his dedication to public service.

Marriage

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain walked out on his family to chase a younger woman who was on drugs, embezzling money from her company, stealing, and facing criminal charges, until her privileged family saved her from trial. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain’s dysfunctional family represents chaos and lack of respect when he curses her in public.

Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama married an intelligent IVY LEAGUE attorney and adores his beautiful young daughters. Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama’s First Family represents what America is striving for. Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama has always been surrounded by and still maintains a great respect for women (Irish mother, Irish grandmother, sister, wife, and two daughters). If anyone is in tune with and favors the betterment of working American women, then it’s Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama.

The World loves Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama and will follow America’s leadership behind Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama.

If D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain had to make another emergency landing on a deserted island with Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama onboard as one of the passengers, then it is safe to say that D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain would assume the role of Gilligan, while Irish-American and Harvard Law Scholar Barack Obama would assume the role of the professor.

Navy pilot John Sidney D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III should have never been allowed to graduate from the U.S. Navy flight school. He was a below average student and a lousy pilot. Had his father and grandfather not been famous four star U.S. Navy admirals, D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III would have never been allowed in the cockpit of a military aircraft.

His father John S. "Junior" McCain was commander of U.S. forces in Europe later becoming commander of American forces in Vietnam while D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III was being held prisoner of war. D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III's grandfather John S. McCain, Sr. commanded naval aviation at the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

During his relative short stunt on flight status, D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III lost five U.S. Navy aircraft, four in accidents and one in combat.

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain III lost jet number one in 1958 when he plunged into Corpus Christi Bay while practicing landings. He was knocked unconscious by the impact coming to as the plane settled to the bottom.

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's second crash occurred while he was deployed in the Mediterranean. Flying too low over the Iberian Peninsula, he took out some power lines which led to a spate of newspaper stories in which he was predictably identified as the son of an admiral."

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's third crash three occurred when he was returning from flying a Navy trainer solo to Philadelphia for an Army-Navy football game.

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's fourth aircraft loss occurred July 29, 1967, soon after he was assigned to the USS Forrestal as an A-4 Skyhawk pilot. While seated in the cockpit of his aircraft waiting his turn for takeoff, an accidently fired rocket slammed into D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's plane. He escaped from the burning aircraft, but the explosions that followed killed 134 sailors, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and threatened to sink the ship.

"Demands for military information were accompanied by threats to terminate my medical treatment if I [D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain] did not cooperate. Eventually, I gave them my ship's name and squadron number, and confirmed that my target had been the power plant."

When the communist learned that D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's father was Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., the soon-to-be commander of all U.S. Forces in the Pacific, he was rushed to Gai Lam military hospital.

The communist Vietnamese figured, because POW D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain's father was of such high military rank, that he was of royalty or the governing circle. Thereafter the communist bragged that they had captured "the crown prince."

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain had roughly 20 hours in combat. Since D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain got 28 medals, that equals out to a medal-and-a-half for each hour he spent in combat. There were infantry guys -- grunts on the ground -- who had more than 7,000 hours in combat where I'm sure a prison cell would have looked pretty good to them by comparison. The question really is how many guys got that number of medals for not being shot down.

D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain has been an unchecked master at manipulating an overly friendly and biased news media. The former POW turned Congressman, turned U.S. Senator, has managed to gloss over his failures as a pilot and collaborations with the enemy by exaggerating his military service and lying about his feats of heroism.

Former naval officer and the owner of an OOIIILLLL-trading company that inked defense contracts worth $1 billion is the modern presidential money man. The law forbids high-level supporters from writing huge checks, but with help from friends in the Middle East D Student Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain is receiving large donations.

BOYCOTT FOX NEWS
If FOX NEWS does not clean up it’s filthy RACIST acts of discrimination, then American and European audiences will B O Y C O T T FOX RACIST NEWS.

Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain saw Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire as a pampered kid being set up in the family business — presidential politics — on the strength of his father's connections and access to money.

Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain railed in private about this. He tried to laugh about it, but he was seething inside. Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain was from royalty, too, in his own way — Navy royalty. He was the namesake of a famous father, and that smoothed his path to Annapolis and helped keep him there.

The good ol' boy supporters of the Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire team savaged Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain and his family, spreading vicious rumors. The boys didn't have to be told what to do. They knew. They'd done it before, to others.

Letting bygones be bygones
After it was all over, Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire, with his usual steely geniality, told Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain that the rough stuff of the primary season was not his fault and, in any case, was just politics. Time for bygones to be bygones. Exactly what the senator said in reply isn't known. But Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire and Karl Rove knew that they couldn't afford to antagonize Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain further. Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain, for his part, didn't want his "maverick" reputation to rob him of the chance to be a major player in a capital dominated by his fellow Republicans.

Virtually every big-hitting corporation with business in Washington needs to see Rove & Co., of course, but they also, quite often, need to see the senator.

Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain needs the president to champion their shared belief that force — and only force — can teach.

The fun of needling Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire
But Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain still finds it hard not to remind the White House of his independence, and can't resist needling Bush Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire even when he dutifully is arguing the president's case. We were right to go to Iraq, Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain says repeatedly, but he has been increasingly tough on the administration's intelligence-gathering problems and use of intel in making its case for war.

The question of the veepship is true that Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain and Kerry are close. They are perhaps the leading members of an informal caucus of Vietnam Veterans in the Senate, a fiercely loyal group that tends to eschew party lines whenever possible to express solidarity with one another. It's also true that, like any politician, Obscenely Rich Wall Street OOIIILLLL Millionaire McCain likes to make news, likes to be in the limelight and likes to be asked if he has any interest in being a partner on a national ticket.

Barak Obama proved why November's presidential election will end in a 50-state sweep. John McCain has no chance. It's like George Bush climbing into the ring with Mike Tyson; one thundering left hook and the Crawford Caligula would be sprawled across the canvas. "No mas"! The same fate awaits the crabby senator from Arizona. The polls are skewed to look like there's a political horse-race going on. There isn't. It's a complete rout. There's one well-toned thoroughbred striding from venue to venue electrifying the ever-increasing throngs, and one doddering, old mare limping towards the glue-factory. Someone should put a stop to it before McCain gets hurt.

At the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten, Obama extracted Old Glory from the burn-pile and gave Brand America a desperately needed shot of adrenaline. 200,000 ecstatic Germans jammed the streets in what turned out to be the political shindig of the year. Many of them were waving American flags and chanting, "Obama, Obama, Obama". It was like Jack Kennedy had risen from his moldy sepulcher and made his way across the pond for one last rousing ovation. Obama has the very same affect on crowds. Its a gift and he knows how to use it to great advantage.

"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment, this is our time," Obama boomed. "I know my country has not perfected itself, we've made our share of mistakes and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions. But the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another."

What can we say about Obama's oratory skills that hasn't already been said? He is one of those unique characters who knows how to tap into the collective psyche and put them under his spell. He is the closest thing to a Pied Piper we've seen in the last half century. Whatever one thinks of his politics, his speeches are a welcome reprieve from the simian blabbering of President Dimwit.

"I speak to you not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen; a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world." (Roaring applause)

JOHN McCAIN: Maverick or Freak?
Have you taken a look at the crowds at a McCain event. Usually, there aren't any. Typically, there are more journalists and cameramen then people; and even they look bored. It's the truth. He generates no enthusiasm at all. None. He may be the most uninspiring, tedious, pure-vanilla candidate of all time; a complete dud. I challenge anyone to recite from memory anything John McCain has ever said in his 40 years in office. Time's up! When McCain begins to talk, its a signal for women to pull out the nail-files and for men to figure out how they're going to get out of cutting the lawn this week. Really. No one listens.

And the people that do manage to drag themselves to his speeches out of a sense of obligation are (you guessed it) scowling white guys with baseball caps pulled tightly over their ears or nearly-ambulatory Korea-era Vets who think the United Nations is a communist front-group that's planning to air-drop blue-helmets into Duluth to take over the United States. Tin-foil hats anyone?

Popularity and charisma, how does one survive in politics with neither. That's the question, and it may be the biggest mystery of McCain's candidacy. He's just not a likable guy. No one ever talks about hanging out and having a beer with John McCain, because they know that he might go "Jackie Chan" and start busting the place up. And he's utterly impossible to listen to. His high-pitched squeaky voice is about two octaves higher than a dog-whistle and twice as annoying. So how is he going to beat Obama. It's a total mismatch.

McCain is the perfect candidate for the GOP Republic party that has completely collapsed. He's like the "Jolly Roger" on the front of an iodine bottle; Brand X. In 2000, the Republican Party boasted it was the "party of ideas". What ideas? The Republican Party has never had ideas because the corporate mandarins and blue-blooded kleptocrats that run the party are suspicious of ideas, ideology, doctrine, philosophy or anything else that veers from their primary objectives of crushing the poor, despoiling the environment, carpet-bombing brown people wherever they may be, and enriching themselves. That's all they care about. The task of the right-wing think-tanks is to treat "war and tax cuts" like they're ideas. They're not. But war and tax cuts ARE the two foundation blocks of the Republican Party. There's nothing else; there never has been. Don't look for ideas; there aren't any. GOP Republican get rich quick by defrauding the American People, robbing the National Treasury, sending American jobs overseas, and raising the national debt.

Hold Bush, Cheney, Rice, and McCain accountable for the crimes they've committed during their time in office.

Obama is not a candidate; he's a phenomenon. Obama is an explosive, vital, charismatic politician. When he speaks people feel better about themselves and their country. And, they're more hopeful about the future, too. That's what makes him unbeatable.

McCain, on the other hand, is the perfect embodiment of his party; a rusty, broken-down hulk that's been stripped of its engine, its fenders and all its moving parts. Even the steering wheel is gone. It's a dead-loss; nothing is salvageable.

McCain is in way over his head. This election is going to be a real embarrassment for him. It's too bad. He should be back at the Phoenix Rest Home shooing kids off the front lawn instead of waiting for the ax to fall in November. It's a rotten way to end a career.

GOP Republican Wall Street Get Rich by robbing the American Treasury and outsourcing American jobs party has officially been dissolved. Democrats and Independents are the official parties. Blessings to America and the World for peaceful cooperation and the elimination of unjust wars for GOP profits. The People First Party has arrived and Rich Wall Street millionaires will no longer use the American People as their cattle. Americans today are all free independent Democratic People in pursuit of happiness in the spirit of cooperation.

“We joined up with an altruistic vision of promoting freedom and justice around the world,” said Vince Emanuel, a Marine lance corporal who did a tour of duty in Iraq from August 2004 to April 2005, explaining why he was marching and protesting the GOP Republican Convention.

“Except we saw the killing of innocent people and the destruction of property ... for a lot of us it was very disenfranchising."

The veterans group tried to hand a message to the campaign of GOP Republican John McCain calling for a withdrawal from Iraq, reparations for the Iraqi people, and full medical benefits for veterans. No one from John McCain’s campaign received them.

BOYCOTT FOX NEWS
If FOX NEWS does not clean up it’s filthy RACIST acts of discrimination, then American and European audiences will B O Y C O T T FOX RACIST NEWS.

TrooperGate, BabyGate, AIP, book burner-wannabe, politically motivated firings of Wasilla employees and every day the list keeps growing - website scrubbings, dates on photos suddenly changing (which makes the youngest child reverse-age) and those 300 Wikipedia edits in a single day, all notwithstanding.

At least for those of us who are merely RELATIVELY fluent on the net, it's just all been so... "1984"-ish.

All of which, btw, makes you guys in the MSM seem downright dinosaurly slowish. (I know - I made those last two words up, Chris - but there simply weren't any genuine words in the English language to describe how you McCain-trusting political "reporters" have been so completely blind-sided by him.)

Which all kinda' makes me sad.

Then, too, just who in the world could McCain possibly choose to follow her (for sheer entertainment value) to offer up to the MSM (another shot at functioning like actual journalism)?

Sarah Palin has to explain to me how her decision to put her daughter in the spotlight like she did. Says something about her family values.

A 17-year-old woman has been taken from the living room of a private family challenge to the national news media maelstrom in the space of four days. On top of the private struggle, she now lives among klieg lights, sat trucks, and political vetters and handlers.

Who put Bristol in this position? It was Sarah Palin and John McCain. While the e-rumor mongering of Daily Kos and Matt Drudge is often despicable, they did not open the doors to the world of Bristol’s personal trial. No, it was Governor Palin and Senator McCain in the practice of very cynical politics.

First, the mother. You can’t be a political neophyte to succeed in the seamy world of Alaskan politics, perhaps today’s most corrupt state. She knew that the media would find that her daughter was seven-months pregnant, and that it would be grist for e-rumor mongering, and then the front pages and 24-hour cable television. To expose her daughter to this hyper public pain is contemptible. The Governor is 44-years-old and this rising star had plenty of time to be a VP candidate or even vie for President (and even gain the credentials to actually qualify for the jobs). The drama of her family meant that this was not her time, but blind ambition drove her to say yes to John McCain. Her first duty was as a mother protecting her child. That’s the right answer on the family value test.

Then there’s John McCain’s irresponsibility. There are only two explanations, and they are both bad ones.

If the McCain campaign vetting was so superficial that it did not reveal Bristol’s pregnancy, that shows a critical lack of responsibility. It shows the same purposeful blindness to learning the facts before making a monumental decision as, say, sending men and women to war based on mangled intelligence. Making a significant decision requires a genuine search for the truth and failing to make that search shows the kind of bad judgment that disqualifies him for the presidency.

Now, the McCain campaign insists that the vetting was just fine and that McCain knew of Bristol’s pregnancy. That’s worse. Thwarted by the right wing of his party in his desire to make a shake-things-up choice with a Joe Lieberman nomination, he became desperate for some kind of sea changing political move. He put on blinders to what would happen to Bristol and is an accessory to exposing Bristol to the 24-hour insatiable news monster. John McCain knows e-rumor mongering very well. He went through it involving his marriages, the 2000 Bush campaign’s story that McCain had fathered a black child and this year about his relationship with a lobbyist. An adult, he chose to expose himself to the monster, but he had no right to choose that for a teenager. That’s bad judgment too, in a father, a politician and a president.

This is not about abortion and it is not a sexist diatribe as to whether a mother can have a public job and still do her job as a mother. It is about the values and judgment of people seeking to hold the first and second most important jobs in the world.

Both McCain and Palin chose the worst kind of cynical politics—something they disavow as purported reformers--over a basic value that says that family always comes first. Barack Obama is right that the media should leave families, especially a candidate’s children, alone. That should be a family value governing the media—but the media ignores it more and more. McCain and Sarah Palin knew this and hopefully they have not scarred Bristol for life. Hopefully, Bristol and her child can live a life in peace at some point, and if that miracle happens that’s despite the family value failures of her mother and a man who wants to be president in the worst way.

Doesn't this sound earily similar to how W treated US Attorneys who refused to violate their oaths of impartial prosecutions?

" ABC's Brian Ross and Joseph Rhee report. "After taking over as Mayor of the small town of Wasilla, Palin fired the longtime local police chief. The former police chief, Irl Stambaugh says he was fired because he stepped on the toes of Palin's campaign contributors, including bar owners and the National Rifle Association"

ONE SPEECH??? You're seriously suggesting that all of the doubts can be dispelled in ONE SPEECH about this person's lightweight background, hasty selection, and lack of qualification? Note that word, "qualification" -- frequently confused with "experience," but not the same at all, as in, Obama may not have more experience (although I do not for a minute concede that), but he's definitely better qualified.

That she can do that with ONE SPEECH is absured; it's preposterous. But, sadly, given the shallow level of what passes for political analysis these days, and the GOP's sliming of the media for doing their job in vetting Palin, it might just happen.

You mention she must show she can assume the role of CIC after a small stint as governor of Alaska and mayor of a small town. I ask...what kind of experience does the person who demands to be CIC have after a few years in the Illinois state senate and a couple years as a junior senator?

Why do women have to be held to a higher standard than men? Hillary got axed because of this - she clearly was the better candidate. At least Sarah Palin was in charge of a public office.

Please The Fix. Need to discuss Alaska Independence Party where Todd Palin was member for 7 years, where Sarah talked at their convention as acting governor last year! Vogler the founder of the party ranted against the US with such hatred. How is this not an issue? How can the Palins be a part of a group that actively wants to secede from the US and not be a huge story?????! People question Michelle's Patriotism how do the Palins get a free pass on this? It is by far the most disturbing revelation of many concerning Sarah Palin as VP candidate.

I have been a registered, voting, union steelworker Democrat(Hillary supporter all the way) for 30 years AND a working mother. This year I am thoroughly disgusted by the Democrats and will not be voting for Obama.

I can understand how you could easily switch from Hillary to McCain. After all, they have NOTHING in common.

What has stinkin' B.O. ever accomplished!!! Believe me, stupid liberals everywhere, experience is NOT an issue you want to pursue. Do so at your own risk, imbeciles. The Dems pathetic track record in presidential elections should make you reconsider your strategy in this one. B.O. is nothing but an inexperienced racist bigot who associates with the extreme left-wing fringe of the Democratic party and has no proven record beyond that. Were he a white male, he would never had made it this far. Swim in that, you miserable left-wing losers!

As for the AIP story, to pull someone's registration card to say they've ALWAYS been a member of a party is not necessarily true, though it does not speak well of the integrity of the party member,as in Palin's case.

The only parties a board of election know about are the one's we indicate, and what we do in the meantime is up to us.

As far as I know, America is still a free country in which freedom of assembly still matters...Board of Elections or no.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

It seems she has already been judged unworthy by many. Everyone needs to take a step back and give here a chance. It is refreshing to see someone that is not already entrenched in Washington politics and lobbyists.

It would be more refreshing to see someone who had a bit more experince with how to run the United States. She was a mayor of a town of less than 7,000 and the governor for 18 months. Who in the Republican Party would have picked her based on those qualifications???? Name one other person.

If you need a woman to run with McCain there are several others much more qualified.

What is so amusing is everyone of you who are stuck with her now and want to believe McCain is infallable are spinning this woman to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Ha, you have no other choice!!

I have to laugh when i hear GOP women saying she is just perfect. She is conservative, believes in right to life, and creationism and has good family values.

Like that is all you need to know about somebody. You people don't know a thing about what she is really like. Let's be honest. Anybody ever talk to her? Ever talked to her kids? Her neighbors?

30 second sound bites from her parents aren't going to tell you a damn thing.

"Oh we just love her. She sounds just like us!" We know nothing but have made up our minds.

Anybody who would consider Sarah Palin, the pork-barrel expert who puts Alaska first in everything as suitable for the Presidency should McCain, aged 72 and in questionable health, expire is high on glue or some other non-controlled substance. Just like McCain, her judgement is lousey; she boards a plane from Alaska to Dallas while 8 months pregnant, then makes the return trip while in labor, and tells nobody about it! It seems she must give birth in some little igloo of a hospital in Alaska. She loathes the American form of government, as do her husband and friends in the Alaska Independance Party. In federal office, she and McCain can do maximum damage to the government and the laws they hate. Palin also vetoed funding for a home for unwed mothers, never thinking she might need the facility for her own daughter. She plans to parade the creature who did the impregnanting before Wednesday's audience at the Convention, presenting the debasement of the republicans for all to see.

Please ease up on throwing as many uses of the word "Hussein" into your replies as possible. It's not that I find it offensive. It's just that, per the rules of my "The Fix" drinking game, I have to take a sip every time you do it, and that old chestnut has been dragged out so many times today I'm going to have trouble driving home. Perhaps you can instead focus on some of the "The Fix" buzzwords that have been seen less in the last few days, like "2012," "all-boys' club," "racist" or "slap in the face."

Come one folks...McCain is older than dirt. He will be 77 at the end of his first term. Sara Palin could very well be our next president, sooner rather than later. This lady's husband belongs to a party that advocates Alaska drop out of the United States and become a new country. They call Michell Obama an angry black woman, so what does that make Palin's husband. Maybe a traitor.

There are more Christians like me than you realize. We just don't attract a lot of attention. We go quietly about the work that Christ called us to do - "help the least of these" among us. You will find us in homeless shelters, advocating for foster children, providing housing for the homeless, etc. You certainly will not find us trying to proselytize or force ourselves on those don't believe as we do. We would rather set a positive example for how people ought to treat each other.

I have been a registered, voting, union steelworker Democrat(Hillary supporter all the way) for 30 years AND a working mother. This year I am thoroughly disgusted by the Democrats and will not be voting for Obama.

Struggle all you want to calibrate the balance, Palin's experience as a mayor and governor are painfully close to Obama's as a state senator and two years as a member of the US Senate. Obama doesn't have an extensive record of opinions, decisions, and positions, and no record at all as an executive. He's all hope and change, but where's the arugula? Does he really endorse invading Pakistan? What does he believe regarding affirmative action? Does he still believe the US should withdraw from NAFTA? What is his position on illegal immigration? Controlling the deficit? He's cloud-hidden, whereabouts unknown on almost every difficult issue in politics. Why does he get a pass? The answer is self-evident. It's that old leg tingle magic. He's a biography Chris Matthews et al. believe they know and can relate to. Palin, on the other hand, is from the planet where all the voters Pauline Kael didn't know live. Palin is a far from perfect candidate, but her shellacking in the press I think will emerge as a cultural watershed. I suspect that the people who watch CMT and GAC, and there are a lot of them, will see a redneck taking a beatdown here. We're going to look at this country, each other, and ourselves with different eyes at the end of this election.

This is crazy. How can we elect someone with so little experience to be just a heartbeat away from the presidency? And don't give me the "Palin more experienced than Obama" line. Alaska has more trees than people, and less people than Chicago. Palin has a bachelor's degree from a small college. Obama has a law degree from an Ivy League school. I know some think this is "elitist," but in all honesty, it's a very good thing. Especially for affairs of the state of the union. There IS a difference in their experience and world knowledge. This is what is needed in a world leader at this time.

I am a soccer mom and my father is a proud military vet. We are proud accomplished patriotic Americans but I will be the first one to tell you that these are not qualifications to be the rulers of the free world! We have been so let down by the Republicans in power over the past 8 year and we are not going to be fooled by their cheap brand of politics this time around. I feel ashamed for voting for Bush and it tore my heart out to see my 79 year old veteran father cry himself to sleep yesterday after he saw Bush shamelessly push for off-shore drilling during his update on the status of the Hurricane Gustav Victims! Shame on him!!!

Chris - The premise of your article assumes that she has anything to do with what she will be saying tonight. As the WaPo reported today, this speech was written well before the Republicans even knew who would be the one to deliver it. Of COURSE she's going to come off with advanced knowledge of all the important issues - because she's reading directly what someone else wrote.

Tonight proves nothing for Gov. Palin. The first test will be how she handles an unscripted, not-all-friendly interview where she is not just the mouthpiece for the Bush advisers.

A charge of obstructing a police officer against the daughter of U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) was dismissed Tuesday after she apologized. Ashley Blazer Biden, 21, of Wilmington, Del., was with a group outside a North Side bar about 1:15 a.m. Aug. 3 when someone threw a bottle at an officer, said Jerry Lawrence, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office. When officers tried to make an arrest, Biden blocked one of them and made intimidating statements, police said. Circuit Court Judge William P. O'Malley dropped the misdemeanor charge after Biden and two of her friends apologized to police in court for their actions. Charges against John Kaulentis, 24, of Deerfield and ...

Where were the questions about whether or not we should have a national dialog on the drunken belligerent bar behavior of daughters of senators?

Sara Palin's selection as John McCain's VP running mate is intended to end badly within the next two to three weeks as part of a devious Republican strategy. The McCain/Republcan strategy never intended for Palin to run the full course of the campaign and most likely not more than two weeks past the end of the Republican National Convention. As a result of attacks on her and the focus on her family, she will resign in shame and disgust, and the McCain campaign then intends to real the rewards of the resulting sympathy.

I have been in contact with a source that has previously provided reliable information on several issues. The strategy is outlined below, which is a combination of informed speculation and quietly-passed information:

(1) The McCain campaign has long ago quietly picked their VP running mate intended to be on the ticket in November.

(2) Palin has been selected as a "trojan horse" target for vocal political firebrands to have a veritable field day.

(3) The strategic response to criticism of Palin is a scripted minimalist retort intended to actually invite more criticism.

(6) As the criticism reaches its peak, and a "family secret" is exposed by an intensely savage "liberal blogger", Palin will resign.

(7) After an appropriate period of McCain campaign faux indignation and a "second VP search", their original choice will be revealed.

Among those quietly discussing this rumored strategy, one name continues to emerge as the likely architect, Carl Rove. And, as is typical of the strategic maneuverings of Rove during campaigns, the intended outcome is multi-facted:

(1) The McCain campaign organization intends to reap significant reward from voters who are showing both sympathy and ager over what has transpired.

(2) The Republican party insiders expect this issue to become the tipping point that initiates strict media control over political bloggers.

(3) The McCaign campaign expects this issue to remove examination of familial matters from the news, as there are deep issues in Cindy McCain's professional life that could harm them.

(4) The backlash of the perception resulting from attacking a "hockey mom", "nice person", and a pregnant 17-year old daughter will forever damage the Democratic party as it is expected they lack the backbone to do anything but apologize.

I lived in Alaska, case closed. That place is nothing but Misfits and nut cases and boy does she fit the mold. She is a pot smoking whack job and who knows what else. I will promise you once the Enquire starts spreading around some money up there we will hear a lot. Want to bet there are a few women in her fisherman husbands life. Maybe a few prostitutes. Lets hear from some of his fishing buddies. Wife swapping is big up there also. Meth labs on every corner and they still make moonshine. Believe me this is going to be good, stay tuned. The tabloids already have her on the covers now and are digging like crazy.
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Hey "anonymous":

You should get over your hatred (or is it just youthful ignorance) of people that live outside of the Village, and stop equating anyone who doesn't live in NY or SF to a character from Dukes of Hazzard. Not very MLK of you, but maybe you don't care.

Alternatively, if you want to go that course, why don't you consider a magazine cover featuring Palin as Daisy Duke taking down the corrupt Republican Frank Murkowski as Boss Hog. Does that satisfy your need to stereotype like a 1940s white man.

Yes, let’s compare the qualifications of the allegedly inexperienced candidates:

Obama has a Law Degree from Harvard and served as the president of the Harvard Law Review. He has been a professor of law and passed up high paying jobs to be a community organizer.

Palin has a BA in Journalism from the University of Idaho and used that degree briefly as a sportscaster.

Obama has spent the better part of 2 years proving that he has the capacity, the judgment, and the integrity to serve at president.

Palin was introduced 5 says ago, gave a mediocre acceptance speech, and is totally unvettied amongst the American Public.

Obama has spent much of his life living and traveling overseas.

Palin obtained her first passport 1 year ago.

Obama beat out a number of qualified presidential candidates and it was eventually decided by his party that he was ready to lead.

Palin has never been a candidate for president and has never shown that she is or should be a candidate for that job.

Both have served their communities at the local level, but only Obama has fought the system on behalf of the under privileged und under represented. Palin was a councilmember and the mayor of a small town. I have worked for a small town and let me tell you, they are completely dysfunctional in terms of operations and management. This particular town's growth can be attributed to suburban Anchorage sprawl and would have happened with or without Palin’s service.

Both have served at state level, Obama as a state representative and Palin as a 1st term governor, but I would argue that the problems found in the Illinois state legislature are significantly more similar to those faced on the national level. Let’s consider Alaska's budget problems. Oh, wait, their only problem is deciding how to divvy up all of that oil revenue. Just so that we are all clear, every resident of Alaska receives a oil dividend check every year just for living in Alaska. Is it any wonder that the state is so corrupt when the government is so strapped with cash?

Only Obama has served on the National level and I would say that that makes him inherently more qualified to serve in a national office.

If Palin had a penis she likely wouldn’t have made the short list much less the long list of VP candidates. It is insulting to women for McCain to presume that genitalia would matter more than a candidate’s stance on issues, experience, or a candidate’s capacity for the job at hand. Some have previously argued the same point in that if Obama wasn’t an African American that he wouldn’t have been nominated either, however the big difference here is that Obama has been tested over the past 2 years and he has passed that test, whereas we must decide on Palin in just 90 days. She may turn out to be qualified, but 90 days time is not enough time for such as decision.

John McCain’s decision will go down as the biggest political blunder in American history.

Memorizing and delivering a prepared speech--such as Palin is doing tonight--is a far cry from being well-versed on national issues. And the radicals who try to say that she is more qualified to serve as president than Obama are just throwing the proverbial crap of hypocrisy. They have tried to portray Obama as not being ready for weeks now, then McCain turns around and chooses a running-mate far less experienced and all of a sudden, she is READY TO GOVERN because she has been the mayor of a two-horse town and a governor of a largely empty state for less than two years?!? What idiocy!!! Obama was already a United States Senator during the 2008 campaign and has been for seven years now), plus he had two years of state government experience prior to that. Palin has had LESS than two years of state government experience and NONE on the national scene. So, explain to us, please, how her qualifications are stronger than Obama's? Now, I will have to admit that she has more experience being under state investigation than does Obama--no doubt about that!!!

Let's just tell it like it is...McCain did a bone-headed thing trying for a shot-in-the-dark to galvanize his faltering campaign and it backfired on him. No use crying "Foul" on the media. What goes around comes around--what more can I say?

Duh! To whom is it apparent that Sarah Palin was not thoroughly vetted? Not to the McCain campaign which is satisfied with its vetting procedures, and not to many in the public who are satisfied she is what she says she is and are looking forward to tonight. It is only the Obama crowd who say picking on children is not right, its an irrelevancy, while at the same time coordinating their pundits and their media suurogates to turn up the heat. Doesn't matter that its false or misleading or not that big of a deal, "do anything, say anything to destroy this woman before she destroys us," they say. My prediction is that this whole thing will have the bloggers, NBC and CNN -- oh, and Obama too -- sleeping less at night while wondering why so many people are flocking to support Sarah Palin. How is poor old Obama going to feel when he loses the election because folks finally see how dirty and dishonest the Democratic party really is?

The thing people overlook is that everything we hear from Palin tonight will be highly calculated and polished by campaign strategists and advisers. We will get very little of her own voice and thoughts. Unfortunately, that's the trouble with tuning in only for the final weeks of the presidential campaign. If the VP is completely unknown, we stand the chance of never REALLY knowing what she would say, given the opportunity to actually speak for herself. We would do well to recall the clip of her on TV in Alaska saying that she would tell people how she felt about the nomination when she figures out what the VP does day after day. Her experience to prepare her for national (and international!) politics is zero. Let's not forget that besides all of Obama's political experience, he also TAUGHT constitutional law for 12 years.

Personally, I'm uncomfortable with her lack formal education in law or politics. A poly-sci minor on a BA in Communications is laughable. But even with such, she should know what the VP does!

I hate to hear that we are the same men & women. Just take a look at mirror or ask your 2 yrs old who should read him/her a book tonight. We are different and intend to compliment each other. I would say that woman should spend more time with kids. But this is her call to make. Being in politics for several yrs implies that she already put family aside some time ago. Here qualification exam is "Convinces conservatives that it is 'ok' for mom to be VP".

My thoughts are just this....I am a woman and I can't believe that McCain would pick a female with this much drama in her life. If they wanted a female, why her? When asked to be VP Palin should have said NO. But she didn't. She's more power driven than family focused. Her 4 month old needs her mother and her daughter needs her with a baby due. When will she have time to run the US with efficency and take care of her family? She won't. She just will have a nanny mothering them both. I guess that's how her daughter ended up pregnant, her mother wasn't around to instill any real values to possibly have prevented her daughter's pregnancy. It may not have prevented it, but it could have.

HAD JOHN TAKEN RESUMES HE WOULD HAVE FOUND MORE WOMEN WITH FAR MORE CREDENIALS THAN SARAH THIS IS ABOUT A WHITE WOMEN VP AGAINST A BLACK MAN PRES.JOHN WANTS THIS TO BE A VP CONTEST BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE CAN'T WIN.LIKE I SAID ONLY A PEPUB WOULD LISTEN TO A REPUB.FRED THOMPSON JOE L GIVE ME A BREAK GEORGE BUSH SHOULD BE HELD FOR MURDER.

It seems she has already been judged unworthy by many. Everyone needs to take a step back and give here a chance. It is refreshing to see someone that is not already entrenched in Washington politics and lobbyists.http://www.rexxsales.com

As a Marine about to be sent back to Iraq(AGAIN), I really hope taht you so called "patriotic" repubs start thinking for a change. If you really are what you say you are wise up and vote for Obama. For some reason you people think that wearing your flag pins, and waving your "country first" signs, cement your patriotism, when the truth is you legitimately strike vibes of nazi-ism down my spine. the truth is that the majority of you are just like the pathetic schlub that's occupied our White House for the past 8 years, and while full of bravado and hot air, are complete cowards who would never think of volunteering to go to war for this country, and if drafted would be ready to wet yourselves. Barack Obama is completely qualified to lead this country. Listen to him, or Biden for that matter, speak, then listen to the other side. While I know the past 8 years have gone a long way in making us forget that the President is supposed to sound intelligent, it's past time to remember. As for Palin, look, I have nothing against her k? Sure she's a great Mother, and she has a right to her opinions. But one thing I cannot stand are hypocrites, So when a fire and brimstone right to lifer is also an avid hunter,(lol), and preaches abstinence to everyone but can't even control her own daughter, then it becomes an issue. And the fact that she has been mayor or governor of Alaska means nothing. Are you kidding me? Alaska? Honestly, who gives a s--- about Alaska? Patriotism. Tell you what, put me and my fellow Marines and other brothers in the military in a position where Sarah Palin is our possible commander-in-chief, added to the fact that with McCain we could very well be in Iran within the next year, and you really are someone that even with my devotion to Jesus and the Catholic Church, I don't know if I could forgive. If you really support us and your country the way you say, then do something to benefit us both for once. Please.

The media is not attacking or scruitinizing Palin any more so than they have other candidates! As a woman, I am offended by those who believe she should be treated with kid gloves. You have to have a thick skin to run for office. If she has what it takes, the media reporting won't matter. She is who she is. She believes what she believes. And her personal choices are important because they give insight over how she might govern were she to have to take over as President. Judgement, both in your personal life and in your professional life, are equally important.

Sara Palin and Hillary Clinton are totally different. I was not voting for Hillary because she was a woman, but because she stood for what I believe in. Sara Palin stands for everything I do not!!! And I am a single mom… Palin is pro life yet she hunts animals???!!!! Hypocrite!!!

Sara Palin's selection as John McCain's VP running mate is intended to end badly within the next two to three weeks as part of a devious Republican strategy. The McCain/Republcan strategy never intended for Palin to run the full course of the campaign and most likely not more than two weeks past the end of the Republican National Convention. As a result of attacks on her and the focus on her family, she will resign in shame and disgust, and the McCain campaign then intends to real the rewards of the resulting sympathy.

I have been in contact with a source that has previously provided reliable information on several issues. The strategy is outlined below, which is a combination of informed speculation and quietly-passed information:

(1) The McCain campaign has long ago quietly picked their VP running mate intended to be on the ticket in November.

(2) Palin has been selected as a "trojan horse" target for vocal political firebrands to have a veritable field day.

(3) The strategic response to criticism of Palin is a scripted minimalist retort intended to actually invite more criticism.

(6) As the criticism reaches its peak, and a "family secret" is exposed by an intensely savage "liberal blogger", Palin will resign.

(7) After an appropriate period of McCain campaign faux indignation and a "second VP search", their original choice will be revealed.

Among those quietly discussing this rumored strategy, one name continues to emerge as the likely architect, Carl Rove. And, as is typical of the strategic maneuverings of Rove during campaigns, the intended outcome is multi-facted:

(1) The McCain campaign organization intends to reap significant reward from voters who are showing both sympathy and ager over what has transpired.

(2) The Republican party insiders expect this issue to become the tipping point that initiates strict media control over political bloggers.

(3) The McCaign campaign expects this issue to remove examination of familial matters from the news, as there are deep issues in Cindy McCain's professional life that could harm them.

(4) The backlash of the perception resulting from attacking a "hockey mom", "nice person", and a pregnant 17-year old daughter will forever damage the Democratic party as it is expected they lack the backbone to do anything but apologize.

You know, everyone talks about Obama's lack of "executive experience", but what about McCain's? What executive positions has he held? Obviously he doesn't consider being a senator an executive position. I know that his daddy was quite an accomplished Naval commander at various levels, but what about the good Sen. McCain? I don't mean the Navy rank Commander - I mean a position where he is in command of an organization. I don't think being the Chief Navy Liaison to the Senate is much more than a lobbying job, so I don't think that counts. Hmmm... I don't doubt the man's courage and patriotism, but I'm not so sure he really has much more so-called "executive experience" than Governor Palin, possibly even less. I know - let's make it a Palin-McCain ticket since she seems more qualified! Maybe then he'll attract the Hillary supporters.

Sarah's beauty queen title should be "Miss Information" or "Miss Judgement" Somebody should tell her that when you shoot at a moose, you're supposed to kill it! It looks like she is no better a shot than liquored-up Dick Cheney.

"I am a Democrat and have ALWAYS been a Democrat. I have never voted Republican until now.

I am so disgusted with the Democratic Party for nominating a clearly inexperienced, anti-American like Obama. This is not the Democratic Party of Truman or my blue-collar, union father. To build up this empty suit, they need to trash a sincere, honest woman to make our Candidate look better. I don't like it. Please give me my Party back!

Posted by: pgr88 | September 3, 2008 4:31 PM "

You are not and probably have never been a democrat. You're just a liar trying to denigrate Senator Obama or a psychotic. No rational mind is going to say they won't vote for Obama because he lacks experience and since he lacks this experience they will vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.

You should get over your hatred (or is it just youthful ignorance) of people that live outside of the Village, and stop equating anyone who doesn't live in NY or SF to a character from Dukes of Hazzard. Not very MLK of you, but maybe you don't care.

Alternatively, if you want to go that course, why don't you consider a magazine cover featuring Palin as Daisy Duke taking down the corrupt Republican Frank Murkowski as Boss Hog. Does that satisfy your need to stereotype like a 1940s white man.

Maybe if the camera gets in close we can see the strings on her arms and mouth.

Perhaps McCain and his staff never really were the ones that made the decision to pick Palin. Perhaps the party bosses (PBs)of the Republican Party told McCain:

PBs: "We have chosen your VP candidate. It is Sarah Palin. The hot governor from Alaska."
McSame: "But I want Liberman."
RBs: "Read our lips. It is Palin."
McSame: "But what about Romney?"
RBs: "This is not really your decision, John. It is ours. Our decision is Palin."
McSame: "But what if something happens to me and she needs to step in."
RBs: "That's why it is Palin. She is not experienced or qualified, so she will be easy to control. We have already picked a highly qualified insider to tell her what to do as VP and what to do if she needs to take over."
McSame: "Really? Who?"
PBs: "Cheney."

She believes the "End of times" is coming soon and the last place people will find salvation is Alaska. She believes people will come there for salvation. Sounds nuts right, I must be making it up right. Listen to her on the video where she addresses her church. She has been around a minister that make Write sound like Billy Graham. Those people are "REALLY" nuts.

----------
>>Mark wrote: "PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!"

There are far more evangelicals like Sarah Palin in the United States than there are people in Obama's kind of Trinity Church, with its Rev. Wright's "black liberation theology" and its rants against Jews, white establishment conspiracies and sexist and racist hate speech for sermons!

Remember Obama's Religion? Here's a refresher:

In a rant in one recorded sermon, Rev. Wright listed U.S. support of Israel in a litany evils that the U.S. engages in, and declares that anyone who criticizes it is accused of anti=semitism (a familiar complaint of Muslims).

Rev. Wright litany of United States evils sermon
(ist starts at 20 seconds and reference to Israel at 1:30 mins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfNEfEBYIZs

Barack Obama's Trinity Church and Rev. Wright were not only racist hate speech artists, but also anti-Israel and anti-semitic.

One vein of his pastor, Rev. Wright's, political activist teachings, is how "Zionists" and the United States are conspiring to oppress Muslims, Arabs and Africans. His pastor published a Hamas manifesto in the Trinity Church newsletter, which called for activists to "unite" in an "armed struggle" against "oppressors" United States and Israel.

Image of scan of Trinity Church newsletter with Hamas manifesto
www.bizzyblog.com/wp-images/TUCChamasColumn072207.jpg

Earlier this year, both Hamas and Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader, endorsed Obama's candidacy for U.S. president.

Finally, you can watch Obama stammering and stumbling over questions about what he believes, at the Saddleback forum last month:

Shakespeare said it, "What's in a name?" Obama's middle name doesn't mean one damn thing, you right-wing idiot! Do you recall when one of your propagandists told you that Obama rhymes with Osama? So what? Hannity rhymes with insanity. We don't want anybody this silly in our party, or our country. Leave at any time.

Sarah Palin is a "bridge to nowhere." I couldn't care less how well she reads from tonight's teleprompter. I want to see an interview on "Meet The Press" or some other unscripted situation where she has to think on her feet and provide substantive answers to questions unrelated to subjects such as how to dress a moose in the field. Save that for hicks like Thompson and the rednecks he represents in uneducated places like Tennessee.

Palin's two biggest challenges will be to effectively call out Obama and go before the press, unscripted. Let's see if McCain's Hail Mary gets caught in the end zone, or if Obama's smooth running championship team swats it down like a fly.

So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2 things in
common: their gender and their good looks.

You have my permission to forward this to your friends/email contacts
with my name and email address attached, but please do not post it on
any websites, as there are too many kooks out there . . .

[ This was already posted on Washington Independent comments area,
with a controllable hotmail account, and was obviously meant by the
author to be read. ]

Thanks,

Anne

ABOUT SARAH PALIN

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her
father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.

She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and
won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because
she is a “babe”.

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents
for seven months.

She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.

She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.

She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out
there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their
major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything
like that of native Alaskans.

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.

She’s smart.

Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.

In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s
surplus, borrow for needs.

She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the
basis of who proposed them.

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.

Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t
fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew
her support.

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything
publicly about her.

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit,
exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to
nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative
action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply
because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant
she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a
fiscal conservative.

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march
to the beat of her drum.

Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked to
global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar
bears as threatened species.

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President.

There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.

However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.

CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary
school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to
promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life
legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?

First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed
voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting
programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny +
Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local
government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.

Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen
when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because
few have gone to as many City Council meetings.

Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out
of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no
fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will
cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100
or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s
attempt at censorship.

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to
say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.

CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in
spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor)
from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of
Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust
for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible
for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are
swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.

You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the
population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000″, up to 9,000. The
day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the
current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was
5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to
2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.

Like rabid dogs, the democrat misogynists are attacking yet another woman with the same savagery they used on Hillary. As before, they are being supported 100% by the liberal media, led by msnbc with their chief woman-hater and tax cheat, olbermann.

This slimebag behavior shows that the loony-left has NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE to OFFER - just smears and hysterical mud-slinging.

1.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, giving thousands of dollars, and twenty years, to a racist pastor spreading hate on the southside of Chicago. Also, Obama has his family sit under this hatemonger. BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

2.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, is friends with an unrepentant terrorist, Bill Ayers, and raises money with this despicable character. BAD JUDGMENT!!!

BTW, Will Ayers have access to the White House if Obama succeeds in this scam?

3.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, thinks Iran is a tiny country and not a serious threat. BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

4.) Obama, their Presidential candidate, wanted to RETREAT-IN-DEFEAT when things weren't going well in Iraq. No country would risk a future military partnership with America if they cannot count on a commitment by America. EXTREMELY BAD JUDGMENT!!!!

5.) Far-left radical Obama not only is for partial birth abortions, he is for allowing infanticide if it is in conjunction with an abortion procedure. EVIL JUDGMENT!!!!!

OBAMA - a few months in the US Senate and he thinks he is presidential material....EGOMANIAC!!!

>>Mark wrote: "PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!"

There are far more evangelicals like Sarah Palin in the United States than there are people in Obama's kind of Trinity Church, with its Rev. Wright's "black liberation theology" and its rants against Jews, white establishment conspiracies and sexist and racist hate speech for sermons!

Remember Obama's Religion? Here's a refresher:

In a rant in one recorded sermon, Rev. Wright listed U.S. support of Israel in a litany evils that the U.S. engages in, and declares that anyone who criticizes it is accused of anti=semitism (a familiar complaint of Muslims).

Rev. Wright litany of United States evils sermon
(ist starts at 20 seconds and reference to Israel at 1:30 mins
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfNEfEBYIZs

Barack Obama's Trinity Church and Rev. Wright were not only racist hate speech artists, but also anti-Israel and anti-semitic.

One vein of his pastor, Rev. Wright's, political activist teachings, is how "Zionists" and the United States are conspiring to oppress Muslims, Arabs and Africans. His pastor published a Hamas manifesto in the Trinity Church newsletter, which called for activists to "unite" in an "armed struggle" against "oppressors" United States and Israel.

Image of scan of Trinity Church newsletter with Hamas manifesto
www.bizzyblog.com/wp-images/TUCChamasColumn072207.jpg

Earlier this year, both Hamas and Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader, endorsed Obama's candidacy for U.S. president.

Finally, you can watch Obama stammering and stumbling over questions about what he believes, at the Saddleback forum last month:

Barack stumbling over "what does Jesus mean to you"?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHtAWPjzvyk&feature=related

The Palin-pander is going to backfire on McCain. He has shown that he is not even master of his own party. He didn't get the VP candidates that he wanted as the right blocked him. He is beholden to the conservative wing of the Republican party and not the independent thinker or maverick that he would declare.

Palin will drip, drip bad news until Troopergate finishes her off....that is, unless the McCain campaign succeed in pushing it back until after the election. It isn't that she is a woman, or a conservative, it is that she simply isn't good enough.

I cannot believe this is for real. I haven't stopped laughing since the Palin nomination. Couldn't be better for the the Democrats. Can hardly wait to watch this train wreck continue to unfold to a slow rolling boil then burst into flames. I did notice the Reps haven't been free with the time of Sarah's speech tonight...are they hoping we'll miss it? Not a chance!!! Hahahahahahaha...this is beautiful. Let's count how many times everyone says, "My friends" LOL

I'm looking to see her fall apart, It is impossible to prepare anyone for this. Professionals in venues like the Academy awards can't control their emotions. She will cry, not be able to get through the speech without sounding like a high school kid reading in front of their class. When she is on the trail, if they ever have the nerve to let her speak on her own. They will have a million rules and not let anyone near her. This is going to be a joke and fun to watch. All she will be doing is be a cheer leader for Mccain and parrot talking points printed for her. Don't look for her on Meet the Press any time soon. I just want to ask her how old the earth is and does she think the Flintstones represent real history?

Palin has traveled internationally - she visited Alaska National Guard troops in Germany and Iraq.
But what's your point?
Someone has to have lived in Indonesia in order to qualify for VP?
btw - Hawai'i doesn't qualify as a foreign country.
So lets see - if McCain had picked Joe Lieberman would the libs be any happier?
There's talk about payback just because he spoke at a convention. Imagine the payback if he'd been part of the ticket!

THIS IS WHAT JOHN IS SAYING ITS SIMPLE HE KNOWS HE CAN'T WIN.SO NOW THE TRICK IS AND I SAY TRICK YOU LISTEN CLOSELY AT THEM SPEAK THEY PUT THESE OLD WHITE GUYS COME ON I AM TELLING IT LIKE IT IS TO APPEAL TO THE WHITE VOTERS AND BEG FOR THEM TO VOTE FOR THEM.LOOK DON'T VOTE FOR THIS BLACK GUY YOU CAN ELECT THE FIRST WHITE WOMEN VP.YOU SEE THIS IS NOT ABOUT ISSUES ANYMORE WITH THEM.IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS TYPE OF SO BE IT,BUT IF YOU DON'T WE NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS 2008 AND NOT THE 30S OR 40S OR 50S OR 60S AN WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT REHTORIC ANYMORE.LETS LET THEM KNOW WE ARE AMERICAN HUMAN BEINGS FIRST AND THIS IS WHAT MATTERS.UNITED WE STAND ALL OF US TOGETHER.LETS LET THEM KNOW WE ARE TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.NO MORE LIES.WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOOSE.ITS OBVIOUS WE HAVE TO CHANGE THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT. SAME SONG YEAR AFTER YEAR.LETS COME TOGETHER AND CHANGE THE LAST OF THE OLD THINKERS AN GET RID OF THEM.

Give a chance to Palin to speak tonight and then take it from there. You are reaching to conclusion. She has more experience than Obahma. I am open to both parties until Oct 15 and then I will decide whom to vote

It looks like all the media elite are the ones out of touch. Sarah Palin's son has DOWN'S SYNDROME. Not "Down Syndrome" as reported in just about every online reported (a mistake by the AP). They must be foaming at the mouth that the GOP got a "real" person to run. Instead of the two who claim to be "in touch" who are just two career politicans run by Kennedy.

Earth to BH! Earth to BH! Catholics are Christians! (the original ones, BTW) and Jesus was a Jew! Hate to pop your bubble ace.

I'm a Christian and am appalled by the rantings of people who claim Christianity but have no understanding of what it means to be a Christian. They would rather step over hungry, sick, and homeless children as they step out of their limos on the way to the Republican convention. If they worried as much about children AFTER they are born as they do BEFORE they are born maybe we wouldn't have so many teenage pregnancies in this country. You will all be held accountable as the New Age Pharisees that you are.

If Palin with her AIP (Alaska Independence Party) succeeds in splitting Alaska from the Union, maybe we can split off Florida too? That would undoubtedly drop some unneeded heavy backwards-thinking-ballast and help in the next election to move the US - the remaining 48 States - back into civilization and into the international community of countries ... :-)

EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!! It is awesome to see how the Republicans have turned you ignorant left-wingers into such vile creatures, lol. There is no way that American will elect HUSSEIN to lead us into socialism. You talk about someone telling you what to believe, just wait. If you could get a 6 figure job anywhere how would you like to give up 60% of it for the thugs on the front porch drinking 40's? HUH?

To put the whole Palin-discussion into perspective:
All of Alaska has less than 1/4 the population of a fair size mid-western city like Chicago.

Vivifiant, Ohio

Posted by: vivifiant | September 3, 2008 4:19 PM

And the people there are enjoying a quality of life lightyears above and beyond the South Side of Chicago where Barack and Michelle keep tooting their grass roots experience. The South Side of Chicago is still one big dump. And that's what will happen to the whole of US if they get in the White House.

John McCain and the republican party, the man who puts country first and the party of patriotism--are seriously running a vice-president whose husband, until she ran for statewide office, belonged to a group founded on hatred of America? McCain and the Republicans are hoisting a vice-president who sends friendly video greetings to the group's annual conventions?

All the humor of this appointment has been sucked up and anger and rage is setting in.

As a life long independent, this is an example of why I don't join a party. When the party does something stupid like pick a Gov. Palin as a VP candidate, I don't have to pretend that it is a great choice, that she is the best the Republicans have to offer at this time. I feel cheated out of a choice between McCain and Obama. I like and dislike things about both of them, but I can't in good conscience put Gov. Palin a heart beat away from the presidency at this time. I would rather have an in experienced Obama that makes sound decision than an experienced McCain that makes wild, risky, bad decisions. I voted for McCain in the primary this year and loved him in 2000, but he just killed any possiblility that I would vote for him. If Obama chokes down the stretch, I will be writing in Chuck Hagel and Bob Kerrey.

-lower annual income
-80% chance to end up on welfare at some point in their life
-60% chance of not graduating high school
-increase rates of alcohol and substance abuse
-7x increase in rates of suicide

These are the statistics for teenage mothers.

Babies are wonderful, beautiful gifts...for people who are ready to have them. For teenage mothers, they come with a pretty steep price tag.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

Trying to rely on something nonexistant to win an election is just asking to lose. I don't want to get into a religious debate, but people need to know that this country is (supposed to be) secular. Merging Church and State is a BAD idea. Yes that is an "opinion" but it is about the most factual opinion out there. This notion alone is the reason that McCain and Palin should NOT be elected. Obama and Biden are both religious, but keep a respectable separation between Church and State. I suspect it would be almost absolute separation, but of course every politician has to claim a religious affiliation to "please" the commonfolk.

McCain should do a parody of those great old Wendy's hamburger commercials. "Where's the Bounce, Obama!" Nice speech last week, but where's the bounce in the polls! America's not buying it, Barack. Better luck next time. Come back when you have more experience.

This issue is NOT about Sarah Palin, per se, but McSame's judgment and solutions.

McCain Is Just More of the Same As Bush
McCain: “There Was A Recent Study That Showed That I Voted With The President Over 90 Percent Of The Time.” During an appearance on FOX’s “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” McCain said, “The president and I agree on most issues. There was a recent study that showed that I voted with the president over 90 percent of the time, higher than a lot of my even Republican colleagues.” [Fox News, “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” 5/22/03]

McCain Voted With Bush 95 Percent of the Time Last Year. According to Congressional Quarterly, John McCain voted in support of the president’s position on legislation considered in the Senate 95 percent of the time in 2007

Will GOP Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, VP nominee may be replaced if GOP ex-NYC Mayor Guiliani physically target and hurt key opponent via his mob ties?? Will he get protege ex-NYPD commissioner, convicted felon with 140 years jail time to do his dirty work in exchange for lesser penalty? Is this what is called his sweetheart exchange deals?

I am a Democrat and have ALWAYS been a Democrat. I have never voted Republican until now.

I am so disgusted with the Democratic Party for nominating a clearly inexperienced, anti-American like Obama. This is not the Democratic Party of Truman or my blue-collar, union father. To build up this empty suit, they need to trash a sincere, honest woman to make our Candidate look better. I don't like it. Please give me my Party back!

Mainstream media you're gettting hondled again. Her speech tonight is meaningless -- its' the second script she'll read written by Rove's people (that's public) -- of course she'll do fine and hit points you raise. keep going on substantive issues and her background!

I am appalled by all the hateful talk towards Palin. I can tell you as a working mother of four, I am disgusted by the Media, disgusted by the so called feminist, and just plain sick of it! She is more qualified to lead then the democratic presidential Candidate Obama.. I for one am glad to be pro Palin! My three daughters are excited about the election. I was telling them how important of an election this was anyway prior to the Palin nomination and how great it was for women ( when Hillary was in it) and for African Americans with Obama, and I'm a die hard Conservative! Education is showing them the entire historical consequence of it all, not what party you are...the Dems have proven themselves to be bully's! You can't fight the issues so attack her child...nice. WOMEN STAND UP AND FIGHT! Listen to how the democrats treat women with there questions, would they ask a man the same questions?..they belittle working women and mothers..holly crap wake up people!

Hey Folks... we shouldn't be asking if Sara Palin is qualified to be Vice-President... we should be asking if she is qualified to be PRESIDENT. Think about this:
Fourteen of the forty-four former vice presidents became president of the United States — more than HALF of them after a president had DIED.

Oh, and if you see Sara, tell her (because she said she didn't know what the VP does) the Vice-President is President of the Senate.
Jersey John

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

>>"As all can see, Aspergirl has her facts and generalizations all wrong. Hillary Clinton is a working mom and has been most of her adult life."

And how was Hillary Clinton treated?

It was a disgrace. Oh yes, Clinton was embraced and cherished by you all. Shall I go cut and paste what a ball-busting, dominating, robotic bi*ch the media and the Obama Democrats portrayed her as in thousands of articles and posts over the course of a year?

In an effort to move the polls their way, the party that promotes strict abstinence and shouts “Don’t bother our kids” is itself going to showcase the young lovers tonight? Just what the 18-year-old ex-hockey player who is no longer enrolled in school needs! Rock star status! What a message to send our young students:
be abstinent if you want, but if you aren’t, don’t worry! You could be introduced as a national poster child and hero for all those who are not abstinent. Fifteen minutes of fame for your five seconds of carelessness! And the GOP talks about Obama getting the rock star treatment?

I cannot believe that people here, especially Republicans are praising this choice for VP. This Republican is utterly disgusted. I don't understand how my party elects a weak candidate, and allows him to follow up with an even weaker VP choice.

The McCain/Palin ticket is now a complete circus, and I will be damned if I will stand quietly by while McCain drives this party into the ground. There is no way I’m voting for Obama, but now I cant vote in good faith for my party either. They have shown to be mirror images of each other, and enough is enough.

I want a real politician. McCain, of all things, stop the stupid pandering to us, your party. It's silly and ignorant. We were going to vote for you anyway, and now you are making us choose between Obama, and Mrs. Obama Jr.

No wonder my party is in shambles. We elected the troublemaking irascible codger, and let him pick another vapid beauty queen to stand by him in photos. It makes me lose my lunch. This country is very, very ill in the head, and I no longer have a candidate to trust.

Sarah Palin: allegedly had a shotgun wedding as she was pregnant before married, her daughter is knocked up at age 17, husband has a DUI, involved in an ethics investigation concerning her sissy and inlaws, and is a bible-thumping member of the NRA.

Oh say can you SEEEEEE!!! By the dawn's early light.... Obama/Biden '08

Tune in folks, to the stark contrast.

Good luck McCain/Palin

I could care less about the fact that her daughter is pregnant, at 17, and unwed. It's happening. Oh well. Bless her heart.

I am interested in her making her case for why she, seemingly to me, accepted McCain's offer to use her as opposed to all other potential picks be they male OR female. And I am also interested in why she has accepted McCain's/Bush policies. What she thinks about Equal Pay, among other issues. The G.I. bill as well. Apparently some additional "interesting" information has come out, contrary to proclaimed experience of reformation. I'm actually not surprised, no offense, but it reaffirms my expectation of the McCain ticket in general.

McCain has no character.He is a liar. He disobeyed orders not to fly under 10,000 feet and got shot down lije the idiot he is.

He dropped his first wife who had supported him for five years as a cripple and he paid her off so he could marry RICH Cindy a week after he divorced his first wife who he PAID OFF. he has anger management issues and philandering issues HE ADMITS TO> HE WILL KILL US ALL WITH IMPULSIVE POOR JUDGEMENT>

Ok washington post what about it? Are you afraid of being called liberal media? Or are you afraid of being called sexist? Which is it? After hearing and reading how she stopped "the bridge to no where" I want to know when your reporters are going to stand up and ask Mrs Palin What happened to the money that came from $223 million to $454 million "bridge to no where project."
The republicans were in charge of the House at the time so when she said no thanks, instead of $223 MILLION DOLLARS she got $454 MILLION DOLLARS to keep....Oh I'm sorry washpost, I forgot they have been keeping Mrs Palin under lock and key.

Well it's become Bristol Spears err Palin, Bristol Palin's turn. Any media consultant that thought it would turn into ANYTHING other than a feeding frenzy would be incompetent. It’s got all the buttons: underage pregnancy, respectable family, exotic location, Presidential election – and lots of new things to find out. Fertile ground to be first to break a story.

Sarah Palin. Graduate with a Degree in Journalism. No Graduate Degree..
Hockey Mom, PTA member. Mayor of 8000 people. Never traveled outside the Country, Not even Canada. Got first Passport in 1997. Governor of Alaska 20 months.

John McCain barely Graduated from The Navy Academy.. Navy College, No Graduate Degree in anything.. Held captive in Vietnam could have come home, didn’t want to be a disgrace.
US Senate for 26 years..

Obama Columbia Graduate with Honors where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations!!. Harvard Law Magna Cum Laude with a Law Degree.
Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, as a Lecturer for four years (1992–1996), and as a Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996–2004).[24]

Illinois Senate 1996 10 years US Senate 2 years He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs.[71] As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,

Biden graduated from Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware[3] and, in 1965, from the University of Delaware in Newark,[5] double-majored in history and political science. receive his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1969

Why is everone on this blog so hateful and mean and vile? I was looking at Obama but if everyone that is for him has these opinions of other people or views that I don't think that I would like to be a part of the Democrat party! I think you have scared me away.....

After a disasterous presidency and a lying cheating administration, one would think that the republicans would have more sense than to put someone like Sarah Palin on the ticket. This effects the whole world's view of America. If we cannot take care of our own house, how can we justify butting into everyone elses business? Joe Lieberman says not to be fooled by Obama and the democrats. It's pretty funny since Bush and the Republicans have been doing precisely this for the past 8 years!!

Well, she's certainly changed MY MIND!
I was against torture.
Now I'm for it.
I was against the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Now I see it was a great idea.
I was against lying.
Now I'm for it.
I was against self-righteous a**holes telling me how to live my life.
Now, I need their help.
I was STRONGLY against Alaska becoming a sovereign nation.
NOW I'M ALL FOR IT.
This woman is BETTER THAN THE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER TERESA, and FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE ALL ROLLED INTO ONE!

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

Does McCain need some cheese with his whine. People whine when they are losing. And I beleive Sarah Palin will self implode. She is a soap opera waiting to distroy her family and the republican party. What was Jonh Mccain thinking when he chose her.Not about the american people, thats for sure. With his ego. He wanted someone like her to be in the news all the time. And not one minute do I beleive he raised 47 million in August. Lies.

For all the losers posting that Palin was part of the Alaska Independence Party, please SHOUT UP. The NY Obama(Times) retracted that story. For all of you picking on her because she is a women with children please SHOUT UP. For those of you would rather have Obama's position of killing a baby that has survived an abortion please WAKE UP.

For those of you who can't see that her experience of running a state with 24,000 employess, over a 10 billion budget. A state critical to our energy situation, a state that has to deal a co-ordinate with the Russians and Canadians. Compare that to the Obama campaign statement that he ran an election campaign with 1000 employees and 100 million dollar budget. Please GET REAL....Palin experience hands down.

The wacko, moonbat left is dispicable and Barrack is the leftist of the left. How any can say he is in the league of John McCain is A JOKE. I have never seen anyone from BHO's past vouch for him...not his Harvard buddies, not his lefty buddies, in fact he tries to suppress it. Compare that to John McCain.

If you want America to go in the tank vote Obama (most lefties would like to see USA in the tank). If you want a strong America vote for McCain/Palin. Now that will truly shake up America. I know, Lieberman knows it, and all the other senators know it.

Barrack has spent his life doing nothing or as my friends say in Illinois...all he does is run for an office...he never does anything.

I think the premise of the article misses the whole point. She is only going to say what the republican speechwriters want her to say. She is not going to say anything about herself, she is going to read whatever they wrote for her.

When is she going to speak openly to the press and the American people so everyone can see what a right-wing radical she is?

Are they afraid that she is going to start speaking in tongues? That's the Pentecostal way, no?

>>Andrea D wrote: "SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOSE."

Uhh, you're the one who is the ignorant fool. A woman who is allowed to have an abortion and is ridiculed as a failure or stupid or defective for having a baby is subjected to social pressures.

The culture of humiliating and degrading women who have sex and show it by having babies, is a throwback to the 1950's.

What is the freedom of choice if it's accompanied by a social code that programs that it's a failure for a woman to have a baby, or that a woman with a baby is a less fit professional than one without?

What the Democrats can't get their minds around is that the Palins DIDN'T have the daughter get an abortion, hide the problem and make it disappear, like any Democratic presidential candidate ticket family would have.

Now, the Palin women are supposed to slink back into a some cave of male disapproval, ashamed of the baby and the fact of the sex that the daughter had.

You're not liberated, you're a tool. You have no choices, but are subjucated by the judgments and the social programming of the men who let you in if they want or shut you out if you want, and decide when you should be humiliated for not hiding the sex you were having.

No wonder Democratic women are such affected, hollow hypocrites, paying lip service to their "feminism" and their "freedom" to choose.

The Republicans need to raid the Obama compound with a made-up excuse and arrest Obama's bloggers and pr/media manipulators so the whole world can see just who Obama is and how he rises to power. They'll only be in jail for 10 minutes, but Obama's rep will be in the tank forever.

McCain says that the middle class are people who earn @Five Million dollars. Hey!!!!!!!!!!! Who has the rest of MY money? According to tax records I am middle class.......make 45,000 dollars a year.......Guess the Republicans have the rest of my money, as it seems whenever the President is a Republican, I have no money in my pocket....BUT, when a Democrat is in office, I have lots of monies. Funny how that works out.

mmm, let's see...for those of you with short memories, I think the last time the media became intimidated by an administration's whining about "unfair coverage"---I believe we went to WAR under false pretense.

I have no doubt that Sarah Palin will pull off the stunt of delivering a major address on television this evening with professional panache and style. She is smart, well-coached, and she is a former tv sports broadcaster. Further, she will be speaking before an audience of adoring delegates who will greet even her most modest achievements as strokes of great oratory and wit.

The real question is how will she acquit herself on the national stage as she strives to answer real questions about her credentials and public positions. She has an established record as anti-choice, anti-science, anti-environmentalism, anti-polar bear. She has attended conventions of radical secessionist groups that put Alaskan state interests ahead of those of the United States.

We know from her own acts that she is in favor of Big Oil, supports the teaching of creationism in schools, is in favor of abstinence-only forms of sex education. She sought millions of dollars in pork barrel earmarks from the U.S. Congress for her tiny town and even supported the "Bridge to Nowhere" until it became politically expedient to be against it. She worked closely with corrupt Senator Ted Stevenson of Alaska to ensure boondoggles for her state.

Sarah Palin has no experience of either living or travelling internationally or foreign language study and has no background or knowledge in national security issues. Parroting the GOP party line on international issues is not a substitute for actual thought on these questions.

Palin has also expressed the fundamentalist position that the war on Iraq is a messianic crusade ordained by God. She is a religious extremist whoses views on these issues should be questioned closely in the coming weeks.

Most importantly, Sarah Palin has no background or knowledge of the key economic issues facing our nation including faltering jobs production, the search for alternative energy sources, and the mortgage crisis.

These are the questions I will be looking to have Gov. Palin to answer in the next few weeks. Her utter inexperience represents a grave danger to our nation just as her selection indicates that John McCain does not have the judgment to be our next president.

It is fascinating . I am an educated woman. I do not support the right to abortion but I do support a womans right to choose.

Palin knows how to dress a moose. WOW!

McCain was shot down because he disobeyed orders!!!!! He was given a purple heart as his grandaddy was an admiral. McCain never became an Admiral....GEEE why not. He is a womanizer....he paid off the first wife that waited for him with three children that he DUMPED for money Barbie Cindy.

Obama is a Constitutional scholar who has character that McCain can only dream of. Senator Obama is a scholar and passed a bill to protect Veterans tha the Republicans were treating like animals.

Palin majored i journailism at a small state college. Senator Obama is an attorney that passed legislation to make the government more transparent Palin is the governor of 500,000 illiterate people.

God help us if McCain is elected. Post tramatic stress disorder ANGER MANAGEMENT AND WIFE BERATING>>>>GROW UP REPUBLICANS AND GET THE FACTS>

Let me get this right. Palin has not enough experience since she has only been a Gov. for close to two years. However, Obama has been a Senator for almost 4 years, yet he has spent the last 20 months (time I have seen posted on this web site) campaigning for President so minus that from his job and you get someone with a little over two years. Appears to me they both have about the same amount of actual working experience unless you consider campaigning for President as work experience. After all Presidents just fly around the country shaking hands all day, giving speeches, and raising money from donors.

John McCain and the republican party, the man who puts country first and the party of patriotism--are seriously running a vice-president whose husband, until she ran for statewide office, belonged to a group founded on hatred of America? McCain and the Republicans are hoisting a vice-president who sends friendly video greetings to the group's annual conventions?

All the humor of this appointment has been sucked up and anger and rage is setting in.

If it weren't for double standards, Democrats wouldn't have any standards! They're all for working mothers, except when they're not on the same side of the political fence. Instead, Dems say Gov. Palin should stay home and raise her kids, and give up all this professional working woman stuff. And then the elitism from the Left, my goodness. Gov. Palin is from Alaska so in the eyes of the limousine liberals, she must be some backward country bumpkin. Good grief...

There is nothing abnormal or bizarre about a 17 year old pregnancy. It's undesirable, because it's better to go to college first and have more time to grow up in our society, but it's far from abnormal.

Pro life culture people have a lot more grounded and wholesome view of family life than "progressives" do. It's not as horrible and terrifying to have a baby as the Democrats who hold the woman's vote hostage to the boogeyman of Roe v. Wade make it out to be.

The Democrats want women to have freedom to "choose"
But then they bash and humiliate women who "choose" life
They call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

Democrats think it's an humiliation and disaster to have a baby
Democrats think a baby is a "punishment"
Democrats think that a 17-year old with a baby is ruined

Beautiful women have sex.
Beautiful pro life women have babies.

You're the ones who are abnormal, twisted and woman-abusive.

Posted by: AsperGirl | September 3, 2008 4:05 PM

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As all can see, Aspergirl has her facts and generalizations all wrong. Hillary Clinton is a working mom and has been most of her adult life. The extreme conservatives in our country are the ones who branded Hester Prinn with the scarlet A, are the ones who have turned on working mothers, are the ones who fight against women's rights. Aspergirl is living in a world of make believe. I cannot get over how some people so convolute the facts and history. Most Democrats are "pro-choice" but this does not mean that they are anti-life. The Republicans in their present platform are against all abortions PERIOD. There are no exceptions. Even God allowed and even demanded that babies be killed in the womb. Just read Joshua. Just read about the conquering of Canaan for starters.

There is nothing wrong with moderation in either the "pro-life" or "pro-choice" stances. The problem comes when you try to push your morality onto someone else. I do not want to be preached to by the Pharisees in the temple, like I listened to last night at the Republican converntion.

Just so you'll know. Aspergirl goes from story to story writing crap. She was a real HRC supporter. Hillary lost, ran a really BAD campaign, really bad. Now Aspergirl can't let it go.
That and she is as racist as the day is long!
Aspergirl is a sad, pathetic loser who I have seen write posts on these stories forever.
ASPERGIRL
THEODOREROOSEVELT
CHEVY51
THEY ARE ALL PAID BY NEO CONS, DON'T KID YOURSELF!

Sarah Palin's speech should encourage all jews, pagans, witches, warlocks, and Catholics to find the real born again Jesus before it's too late. She should also remind people that she is a mother of five and is PRO LIFE. That would be a short speech, but it would cover all the important basics.

Hey Folks... we shouldn't be asking if Sara Palin is qualified to be Vice-President... we should be asking if she is qualified to be PRESIDENT. Think about this:
Fourteen of the forty-four former vice presidents became president of the United States — more than HALF of them after a president had DIED.

And if you see Sara, tell her (since she said she didn't know what a VP DOES)...the Vice-President is President of the Senate.

What she does NOT need to do is parade out the newest celebrity couple Levi and Bristol and make them poster children for unmarried teenage unprotected sex so all the fawning masses can cheer them. If she does that she should have all of her children taken by social services. She should not be using her daughter to get support from the ban abortion now folks. It is not fair to Bristol. And it is certainly poor parenting to use her daughter for political purposes. Does Todd have a say in any of this????

I have not left the Democratic party. The Democratic party has left me. They're done in my book. First, they practically cast our Hillary. Now they smear an honorable woman like Palin. I disagree with the right wing on many issues, but McCain and Palin are different kinds of republicans. They have my vote in November.

palin -- b.s. in journalism from univ of idaho. PTA parent, mayor of a town of 5,000, two yr gov of alaska (a state with a population smaller than most mid-size american cities). chosen as mccainÕs running mate without being fully vetted

obama -- b.a. in international affairs, columbia university, law degree from harvard, president of the harvard law review, community organizer, constitutional law professor, univ of chicago, 8 yrs state senator, 4 yrs U.S. senator, Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and VeteransÕ Affairs committees through December 2006. In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He also became Chairman of the SenateÕs subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. currently democratic nominee for president of the united states. has visited with all major european leaders including pres sarkozy of france, prime ministers of germany and iraq, etc. has been fully vetted and chosen to represent his party after 25 national debates against major national political figures. fully outlined policies on education, healthcare, economy, foreign relations etc, etc, etc

no comparison really. obama is a tested world class leader. palin is a self-proclaimed backwoods provincial hockey mom

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

Sarah Palin seems to bring out the worst in Democrats and liberal men. You guys should be ashamed of the way you are treating the Palin family. You probably beat your wives too, that is the few of you liberal pinheads that have been with a woman.
The media has run amuck and Democrats followed them into the swamp. Don't tell me about Republicans being insensitive. The fruitflies passing for liberal Democrats today are nothing more than bigots and wimpy little boys who can't deal with strong, imtelligent women.
Go Sarah!!!

Reclaim Her Image - or rather keep the image of Levi (if he was foolish enough to join them for the convention) and Bristol off the TV. Keep Bristol out of the hall. No one will be paying attention to Sarah - instead trying to get a glimpse of baby bulge.

Substance Matters - Humm, well her state is the closest to Russia . . . Prattle off some numbers about how many billions of barrels of oil are oozing out the ground and call it good.

Blame the Media - Well of course, but it never really works does it? Gently though - stoking the freeding frenzy won't help it go away.

Call Out Obama - Well yea, but who's going to be paying attention? She needs to some up with something new to smear him with. Maybe the GOP has something saved up?

Charisma Counts - Don't smile too much. This is the #2 spot in command of a nuclear armed nation.

I'm sure women want to be treated equally, even in the vetting process. The media sells information. That's all. There are substantive presentations and there are those with no substance. It's our ability to know the difference that will make the difference.

Whatever party you belong to, or which way your leanings are, please remember we are doing what is best for the United States.... without regard to gender or race. It's too important to you and your children to do less than your best to sort out the issues.

I believe Chris Cilliza has hit the major themes in which Palin will cover tonight. She'll discuss energy and herself. She'll discuss reforming and herself. She'll discuss the difficulties of raising a large family and career and herself. And finally she discuss experience and lash out at Obama, and talk about her and McCain's experience.

I really fail to see how comparing Palin's resume with the resumes of other applicants for this job is sexist. I also don't see how the observation that 2 years in a state capitol and two years in the nations capitol are different things is elitist.

It does matter if she can do the job, right? As a citizen it is OK, even though she is a woman, for me to ask the question if she can actually do the job?

I'll be frank -- I like her. I don't particularly like McCain. And I sure don't like being told that asking meaningful questions is off limits as elitist and sexist.

I'm shocked and dismayed at the negative press surrounding Sarah Palin. the Democrats and the Media have done a nice job cutting her up before we have even heard her speak. Just when i thought Obama had a good speach and McCain congradulated him for his moment. The wolves come out for blood with innuendo and unsubstaniated scandals where is responsible new repoprting. I fear the evil people bad people have taken over and there is nothing we can do about it. These people are anything but America first, and we have our young men fighting and dying for these people for shame Barack Obama and NBC news!

aspergirl wrote (a lot of crap as usual) but this too:
The Democrats want women to have freedom to "choose"
But then they bash and humiliate women who "choose" life
They call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

NO, YOU RIGHT WINGED NUT BAR. SHE JUST DOESN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOSE. GEEZE, ALL DAY, EVERYDAY, YOU JUST SOUND DUMBER AND DUMBER. MCCAIN/PALIN ARE JUST YOUR KIND OF FOLKS!

Oops. But hey, it's not like Palin was the first Wasilla mayor to go after federal money, right?

"Wasilla had received few if any earmarks before Palin became mayor. She actively sought federal funds -- a campaign that began to pay off only after she hired a lobbyist with close ties to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who long controlled federal spending as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He made funneling money to Alaska his hallmark."

Yeah, she's quite the anti-pork, anti-lobbyist maverick. It's too bad the McCain campaign is now refusing to answer questions about the vetting process because it would be nice to know if they knew about this.

This woman is a complete joke and a embarrassment to women everywhere.

You know whatever she says the Repubs at the convention will love, She’s there to please the God, Guns, and Gays crowd after all. She IS a right-wing extremist by all accounts.

Now we have more lies from the right, accusing the Dems of “sexism” and “misogyny”. You picked a nutcase candidate that just happened to be a woman, not from her experience or ability, just because of the shock value. Guess she is a good diversion from the repeated failures of the last eight years by Bush and Co.

The part about “reformer” and “maverick” makes me laugh too, being a far-right nutcase is being a “maverick”? And what is she going to reform, is she going to dissolve the Republican Party. Its been the major center of corruption for many years now.

These LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HYPOCRITES would never criticize a pro-choice liberal Democrat if she was in the same position. They would be screaming at those poking their nose in her private life. They would be calling her a great reformer, taking on big oil and her own party, and, getting the job done when the previous governors failed. Barack would be making a bold choice by picking such a woman showing he is really serious of accomplishing CHANGE.

Hey Folks... we shouldn't be asking if Sara Palin is qualified to be Vice-President... we should be asking if she is qualified to be PRESIDENT. Think about this:
Fourteen of the forty-four former vice presidents became president of the United States — more than HALF of them after a president had DIED.

I think it is extremely sexist of McCain to think that women are as interchangeable as LEGO blocks. Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have absolutely nothing in common except her gender. If McCain wants to fish for Hillary Clinton voters by dangling Sarah Pallin as a substitute bait it shows his disdain, lack of respect and understanding of Hillary Clinton in particular and of all women in general.

As a fervent Democrat, I am glad we're putting this b!tch where she belongs! We got rid of Hillary in the real pary, and we'll do her in also from the fake party! Obama is THE ONE. No way no how will a woman ever be put in the white house. A woman cannot be trusted with power.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you use to belong to the Young Republican's when you were in high school?

Sarah Palin is the VP pick that helps unite the Republican Party. If that bothers you; please get over it. We need to get moving and stop the slow destruction of this nation. Either Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

The current feeding frenzy against Palin has manifested because the "in the tank for Obama" media was furious that the news of Sarah Palin trumped the headlines of Obama's acceptance speech the night before. The McCain campaign simply used the Obama strategy used against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Near the end of the primaries, when Hillary was winning more states, the Obama-nation scheduled big name endorsement rallies to usurp Clinton's thunder, i.e. the "faithful" John Edwards and Al Gore endorsements. Let's also not forget the unsightly scene of Obama (none too discreetly) giving Hillary the finger during a rally in NC, the night that Hillary trounced Obama in PA - just a side note.

Did Mr. Cillizza forget to add that Gov. Palin chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission? And when mentioning the investigation about the attempt to have a state trooper fired (if this is even true), did Mr. Cillizza mention that this trooper (Palin's sister's ex-husband) has been regularly cited for infractions since 2001, is accused of making death threats against Palin family members, and tasered his step-son. As far as Palin's daughter's pregnancy, who cares! It has nothing to do with Palin's abilities.

Have to laugh about the non-vetting of Palin, makes me think of the wonderful job the arrogant, corrupt DNC and media did when they vetted Obama, not - give me a break. What a shame women did not stand up for Hillary Rodham Clinton the way the Republican women are now standing up for Sarah Palin, especially after all the work Clinton did over the years for women and families. I won't vote for the McCain/Palin team(or the Obama political affirmative action ticket for that matter), but I sure will decry the recent absolutely disgusting sexism directed toward Palin. Palin may possibly be a brilliant strategy on McCain's part, time will tell.

This whole episode is an insult to the American people. Sarah Palin may be a very nice, down-to-earth person who has become very accomplished in her career while raising a family. Good for her -- and good for the millions of other people who have done the same. This isn't a qualification for the vice presidency of the United States and on that score, she doesn't even come close to measuring up. We've been here before. In 2000, George W. Bush was the somewhat bumbling but decent, down-to-earth guy you'd like to invite to your back yard barbecue. Well, we all know where that went. The Republicans are at it again, helped by the news media fawning over the governor/mother/moose hunter from the frontier. Don't fall for it! Once is enough! And the news media should be ashamed for aiding and abetting the notion that "just plain folks" Sarah Palin is qualified to step up to the presidency if something happens to McCain.

IF YOU VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND THIS WOMAN, I PROMISE, ALL OF YOU WILL BE SLEEPING UNDER FREEWAY OVERPASSES!
YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET, AND GET WHAT YOU DESERVE.
THE RIGHT MAKES UP 22% OF THIS COUNTRY, AND WE ARE ALL TIRED OF ALL OF YOU RIGHT WINGED NUT BARS!
DO NOT TELL US HOW TO LIVE AND WHAT TO BELIEVE, AND WE WILL NOT DO IT TO YOU!
THAT IS ALL WE ASK!
LEAVE SARAH ALONE. SARAH HAS ABUSED HER POWER NOTORIOUSLY FOR YEARS, AND YA' KNOW WHAT, SARAH IS GOING TO BE RE-CALLED AS GOVERNOR. SHE HAS CUT OFF HER PERT LITTLE NOSE TO SPITE HER FACE!
BYE, BYE SARAH, BACK TO YOUR TARILER NOW!

Of course, Palin is going to do well tonight. She will be talking about herself in front of a "hometown" crowd. I expect constant cheering and clapping for every two sentences she says. She is an attractive candidate whom the GOP base want to be believe in.

Once she is out on the campaign trail by herself, the reporters will grill her on issues in which she will be dumbfounded by.

If the press really wants to get her, ask her the name of the Russian President and the Iranian President.

In my previous post about how the Republican Party and RNC are now advancing the line that Governor Palin is more qualified than Senator Obama because of her executive experience as both a Governor and Mayor trumps being a one term Senator, I asked the question,"Does that mean only Governors or CEOs can run for the Presidency?" I forgot to mention "Mayors" because Palin was also a Mayor of a large town/city in Alaska.

I am trying to put this into perspective. If the RNC and the Republicans now assembled in Minneapolis/St. Paul are so enamored of Mayors and Governors, why did they not nominate one for President? There was Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor Mike Huckabee, and a "two-fer": Governor and CEO Mitt Romney. So why did they nominate Senator John McCain when clearly that had some great choices for President who had executive experience as Mayors, Governors and CEOs? I forget. How many delegates did "America's Mayor?" receive? I wonder if his three marriages, pro-choice, pro-gay and anti-gun stances had anything to do with his banner showing? Nah!!

As for Governor Huckabee and Governor/CEO Romney, what was wrong with those two guys? Aren't they both Pro-Life? Weren't those both in charge of their state's National Guard? What about Romney's vast International Experience in being in charge of the Winter Olympics? He was the Executive in Charge of the Olympics wasn't he?

Did the Republican voters in the primaries make a mistake? Well, they still have a chance for a do-over by Thursday. If they must have a highly qualified Mayor/Governor on the ticket there still is time to reconsider Giuliani, Huckabee and Romney.

Hurry up RNC and get to work! You can really make history on Thursday and correct your obvious mistake by not having a Senator at the top of the ticket!!!

As a fervent Democrat, I am glad we're putting this b!tch where she belongs! We got rid of Hillary in the real pary, and we'll do her in also from the fake party! Obama is THE ONE. No way no how will a woman ever be put in the white house. A woman cannot be trusted with power.

I think family issues should not be an issue. Her daughter should be left alone by the public eye. What is important and will be interesting is if Sarah Palin will speak tonight as a former AIP - Alaska Independence Party - member or as a defender of Creationism in public education or simply as someone who is against women because of her anti-choice stance? Or will she speak as a former Pat Buchanan fan?
Surprise surprise...

The fact that her daughter is pregnant puts the lie to the 'abstinence only/family responsible for sex ed' argument. It also fails to resolve the questions about who is the mother (and father) of Trig.

If you were pregnant with a down's syndrome baby and your water broke prematurely, would you go right to the hospital? Or would you get on a plane in Texas, fly to Seattle, change planes,fly to Anchorage and then drive to a small town hospital that doesn't have preemie care??

Palin says it's because she wanted her baby to be 'Alaskan Born' (important because of her secessionist beliefs). IF that's true, why not deliver the baby in Anchorage??

Perhaps Palin can tell us her feelings about a religious right that frets over women's rights and gets upset with women who work outside the home.

Perhaps Palin can tell women her stand on equal pay for equal work.

Perhaps Palin can explain her position on "Just Say No" sex education and her position on unwed mothers.

Perhaps Palin can address MADD.

Perhaps Palin can address the acquisition of a future son-in-law by shotgun, a person who has written some of the most vulgar things on his own personal website. He seems like a real catch!

Perhaps Palin can tell us what she really thinks about pork-barrel spending since she was for it before she was against it.

Perhaps Palin can tell us why she has no passport.

Perhaps Palin can tell us what it is really like being the executive over one of the wealthiest per capita states in the Union.

Perhaps Palin can tell us what good biblical environmental stewardship means in light of her pushing to drill everywhere.

But then again, she doesn't have to. The Republican party forgives all of their vices and maverick choices while castigating the opposition for, in many cases, lesser things.

The Republicans show their Christian upbringing. It is based on "Do unto others before they do unto you." Notice the policy of pre-emptive strike? Notice the policy of smear and fear campaiging? Notice their campaign of utter lies?

There is nothing abnormal or bizarre about a 17 year old pregnancy. It's undesirable, because it's better to go to college first and have more time to grow up in our society, but it's far from abnormal.

Pro life culture people have a lot more grounded and wholesome view of family life than "progressives" do. It's not as horrible and terrifying to have a baby as the Democrats who hold the woman's vote hostage to the boogeyman of Roe v. Wade make it out to be.

The Democrats want women to have freedom to "choose"
But then they bash and humiliate women who "choose" life
They call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

Democrats think it's an humiliation and disaster to have a baby
Democrats think a baby is a "punishment"
Democrats think that a 17-year old with a baby is ruined

It is refreshing, Mike, to see a few of us among this throng of virulent liberals, with some real common sense. So, DITTO on your comments."

Posted by: So why are you even here, drooling dittohead? | September 3, 2008 3:42 PM
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And besides NOTHING sensible coming out of your mouth, you are another typical COWARD. Place your name behind your comments if you have the GUTS!!! That is all you can do!!!

All Palin needs to do is read the prepared script and then leave before anyone starts asking her any questions. We won't be hearing anything from her except what McCain's speechwriters tell her to say. Her press availability will be zero. The McCain camp will whine loudly that the media is only interested in her teenage daughter's pregnancy, which will be used as a smokescreen to conceal the far more substantive concerns about her history. She is just a trophy to wave in front of the far right base, not a true political partner.

Obama just gave a speech where he said he will bring back the jobs that went to China. Good grief. He will next say he will cure cancer. And the lemmings are all stumbling atop one another to be the loudest Obamamaniacs in the crazed cult.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

I am a democrat that is so OUTRAGED that I will be voting AGAINST them from now on!!
I am sick of Obama, his supporters, the media, and the DNC!!
The Attack on this woman is so VILE
I can not believe how low the media has gone!! Here is a woman that has SO outshined Obama, who has nothing to OFFER!!
MACCAIN!!

What is pathetic is that the bar has been set so low for her performance tonight. Anyone can read a prepared speech and we've already seen that she can deliver a speech. The ridiculous issue here is that the McCain/Palin campaign complaints about how hard the media is scruitinizing Palin. Of course she should be scruitinized. What would be sexist would be if the media took it easy on her because she is a woman. I never believed the media was tougher on Clinton than Obama. Stand up and take it. If you are tough enough to run for VP than you should be tough enough to withstand any scruitiny given a VP candidate. Bottom line. To not expect such scruitiny when selecting her as VP was a huge miscalculation by McCain. She (not the campaign) needs to answer the questions swirling around.

The epitome of stupidity of the liberals is beyond expression. Indeed liberals want change – They want to distort the American values with a false self-gratification pretense that an individual has the right to do whatever they want. Obamma is a product of a carless 17-year old female and looser hit & run dude. Thank pro-life or else…! I really want to attack Obamma, but too bad he doesn’t have any substance. Carl Marx and Obamma are alike: false ideology + liberals = communism. Obama +Biden = A world of abomination

"How long do we have to wait until we see some weepy-eyed neocon on u-tube crying, "Leave Sarah Palin alone!"?"

It's already happened, in a sense. Security missed an assignment and let Newt into the hall last night. He was indignantly blathering something about Palin being more experienced than Obama, blah, blah, blah. That will be RNC code for "leave Sarah alone."

"Mr. McCain’s advisers said repeatedly on Monday that Ms. Palin was 'thoroughly vetted'"- The New York Times

Palin "responded to a 70-question form that included 'intrusive personal questions' a senior campaign aide said today."- The Washington Post

"Intrusive Personal Questions" from the Palin Vetting Questionnaire:

1) Did we forget anything?

2) Secession from your own country is

a) Patriotic
b) A qualification to be the potential leader of that country
c) Maverick-y!
d) None of the above

3) John McCain has said that he has followed your record for "many, many years." Divide those "many" years by the number of years of your actual record. The result is

a) Three days
b) Two years as mayor of a town of 9000, and 20 months at the helm of the vaunted Alaska National Guard
c) 0: experience, as we know, is not relevant to one's record
d) Czechoslovakia

4) Moose Burger : Abstinence as Moose Hunting :

a) Brother-in-law
b) 50 state flag
c) Bridge to Nowhere (after it was made impossible)
d) All of the above

5) Did we forget anything?

6) Three Vice Presidential candidates are moving from three equidistant fixed points towards a podium. One, in his slightly glazed stare and awkwardly quasi-combative speech bears a faint resemblance to Dan Quayle; the next can only assist the ticket as we near closer to Rapture; the third seems to have stumbled out of one of Christopher Buckley's sharper efforts. Which one arrives at the podium first?

7) "Nothing that has come out did not come out in the vet." This sentence actually means:

a) Everything has come out and everything has been vetted
b) Everything that was vetted has come out
c) Everything that has come out was vetted
d) The vet came out and vetted the vets vetter than anything has ever been vetted. Really.

8) You are a right-wing, red-state conservative. During the Clinton Administration, you believed that President Clinton's behavior with Monica Lewinsky disqualified him from the Presidency on moral grounds; you fervently raised the terms "Lincoln Bedroom" and "Johnny Chung" to invoke notions of utter corruption, and regarded the "Travelgate" firings as an abuse of power. In the face of the recent revelations regarding Palin's directorship of Ted Stevens' 527, support of the Bridge to Nowhere, "Troopergate" imbroglio, and illegitimate pregnancy of her 16-year old daughter, you:

a) Being near another large nation
b) Seceding from your own country and then taking up residence in the new nation
c) Being close to "Nowhere" in your support for the Bridge to Nowhere, which is different than being "Somewhere"
d) Blame George Soros

10) If you were seeking to choose as your running mate someone who would please Evangelical Conservatives with very traditional values, who would be without taint of corruption or misuse of government power, and someone who, in line with your campaign's own slogan, would put "Country First", after thorough vetting and "intrusive personal questions", you would choose someone who:

a) Supported the Bridge to Nowhere
b) Supported the secession of Alaska from the U.S. (Slogan: "Alaska First!")
c) Was the subject of a state ethics investigation due to allegations that she had tried to have her brother-in-law fired and that she fired the state public safety commissioner due to his unwillingness to fire the brother-in-law
d) Would suffer from allegations that her 16 year old child had become pregnant illegitimately, despite her fervent support for abstinence only sex education
e) None of the above

It seems to me that there are some people who are SURPRISED that a politician in the upper ranks is going to give a speech that wasn't written by them. Hello!!! Do you really think that any politician writes their speeches by themselves, if at all. I think the last time I saw that happen was in high school. As for sexism... let's face it, some people will vote Republican because she's pretty. Some people will vote Democrat just because they don't want a woman anywhere near the White House. For those who choose to use their votes in these ways, I feel sorry for you. As for the people who are complaining about her ability to lead. Do a little more research into what the people in her own state think of her as a leader. You can't live in California and make judgments about how the issuesare handled in New York. It's the same thing here. Don't judge her by the issues in your state, but by the way she's done her job in her own. Then, see where she stands on national issues. There are things that I've seen and heard about her that I don't agree with, but the same can be said of Obama. I don't truly think we got the best nominees from either party for this election. I have a feeling that no matter which way I eventually decide to vote in November, I'll feel like I lost. Until that day comes, I'm trying to do my best to find the truth about each ticket and make the best of this situation. We've got an elderly former POW running with a young, pretty and controversial and inexperienced woman for the GOP. And in the other corner, we've got a young, eloquent yet also inexperienced man, running with an older male whose got about as much life in him as McCain. Are there really any differences? Both parties want to make history this year. One could do it by having the first female VEEP. The other could do it by having the first non-white president. Are we as citizens really going to get what we need from either, or are we going to lose time to the media asking the question " How does it feel to be the first ___________ in history." We are going to have lame duck years right off the bat with either one.

The news media and Democrats are always telling us how hateful Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans are. After this campaign season, I don't think the Democrats are credible. They have attacked any woman who gets near the White House and smeared them and their families at a very personal and hateful level.
Sarah Palin is a smart, strong woman and Mccain seems far more prepared to lead then Obama.
I'm going to vote Republican for a change because I no longer recognize the democrat Party. They are shameless and brutal and certainly no friend of women.

What is it that has Obamabots going crazy, that she has more experience then the combined Obama/Biden ticket? Although true, that can't be it.

Could it be that Obama's history is about to catch with him, what if his crack dealer wanted to get a book contract, were there just a few crack dealer or many, if Michelle Obama's work with Richard Daley and the Daley machine was not all exposed yet, will Rezko have more to say about his real estate dealings with Obama, what if "The Rev. Wright's" hateful sermons had pictures of Obama at them.

Is it that the "Swiftboaters" are checking into Obama's affairs prior to Michelle, who did he date, how long, any issues he needs to come clean with.

Who knows, so many scary Obama ghosts out there....perhaps that's why all the focus on Sarah Palin.

You know the top of the D ticket is weak when you have to measure him against the number two on the R ticket. I think Obama's mentor Reverend Wright has more experience than B. Hussien Obama. I will give Obama some credit though. He must of listen to the Reverend because he and his wife hate this county just like Wright does.

Ms. Palin does not need to be anywhere near the White House,enless on a visit,she was wondering in July what a VP does all day, she doesn't have a clue of what the job calls for and nobody can say any differant on that. she said it, she does not know what the person has to do to be VP.! WOW, PEOPLE WAKE UP .! SHE'S NOT A BAD PERSON JUST NOT QUALIFIED.

Is there a strain of The Honest going around the Republican strategist community? Yesterday, John McCain's campaign manager admits that the campaign doesn't intend to win based on the issues, and today, some nameless Republicans admit that blaming the media is solid political strategy. Once again, that's relatively common knowledge, and the Democrats do it all the time too, but you have to question the wisdom of admitting it. Chances are, it will cow the mainstream media into being nice to Sarah Palin, but only temporarily; as soon as another damaging revelation pops up, business is back on.

Palin fired the librarian of Wasilla for refusing to remove books from the shelves that Palin didn’t approve of. Palin only hired the woman back when the town revolted and threatened to recall her as mayor. Sarah Palin is a book banner!!!

ST. PAUL -- Top Republican women held a fiery press conference today to denounce what they consider to be sexist smears from the Obama campaign and the media against Gov. Sarah Palin.

"We want to call attention to the outrageous smear campaign against Sarah Palin," said former Mass. Gov. Jane Swift. "With her years of executive experience and legislative accomplishments, she is more experienced than Sen. Barack Obama" to become president.

"Gov. Palin's experience is in running a state," added Swift. "Barack Obama's experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign."

DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: ACCEPTED SEXISTS BASHING HILLARY
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: THEY 'SHUT UP AND GET ON BOARD'
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: IMPOTENT TOOLS IN THEIR PARTY
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: AFFECTATIONS OF FEMINISM

I wonder about the actual intelligence of these liberals in running to assassinate the character of Sarah Palin after the job they just finished doing to Hillary!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reads carefully. Hillary ran for the nomination and wanted to be judged on her merits. She was beaten by a better organized and managed Obama team. The media didn't cast one vote.

Palin is not being judged on how good a mother she is, not how good a governor she is. She is being judged on whether she is qualified to assume the role of the presidency should McCain go off to the Happy Hunting Grounds.

In neither case are these women judged as women. They are both being judged as potential candidates. This is what they want and this is how far we have come.

The are being disingenuous to everyone if they think they should win based on their sex. Women have worked to hard to fall back on that excuse.

They are being judged on their political qualifications. And that is what they want.

Palin fired the librarian of Wasilla for refusing to remove books from the shelves that Palin didn’t approve of. Palin only hired the woman back when the town revolted and threatened to recall her as mayor. Sarah Palin is a book banner!!!

It is obvious the elitists, the Obama/Axelrod/Pelosi crowd aren't one bit concerned about Sarah Palin's daughter who is pregnant, they are worried that Sarah has captured the imagination of a lot of Americans who were shoved out of the political system by Obama, just they way he works - shoving people out of the race so he can run unopposed. He did that in Chicago, he did that to Hillary, and now he is trying to do that to Sarah Palin - I think
Sarah will stand up to him, and win. Obama won't win this election. Sarah has electrified America - gw.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 3, 2008 3:49 PM
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You are very right and to the point.But they are failing to see that the american people have caught up to their dirty game. Obama is all full of arrogance and he and his gang need to return to Chicago.

I dare any decent reporter to do a story on the Chicago corruption and the rise of Obama. Remmember, America, how dangerous these false prophets could be!!!

1. Announce things will be different from here-on.
2. Declare the US Constitution old and out of date. Give executive order to burn every copy of this document.
3. Order a copy of Bible to be printed and distributed to everyone in the US.
4. Declare anyone found in public place without a gun to be immediately arrested.
5. Demand every female of child-bearing age to produce a child within the next year or face prosecution.
6. Declare every school, college, and university in the US to replace their curriculum with Bible-study program.
7. Ban all oil producing fields to be closed and open every inch of Alaska to be drilled. Declare oil sold in USA from any other source will be considered illegal.
8. Plead ignorance on every other issue and declare these issues should be out-sourced to cheap labor in other parts of the world.
9. Prove her tough maverick side and declare Bush, Cheney, McCain to be kicked out as part of Washington DC clean-up.
10. Declare all currency should bear her picture.
11. Order modification of Statue of Liberty to her likeness.
12. Thank God for keeping Bush, Cheney away from the RNC Convention, and close with God Bless America, especially Alaska!

"She is a woman who is not pant suited and tube tied, trying to play a man among feminized boys. She should scarce the liberated who think sex is sport and children an inconvience to be educated by the state."

The republican strategy is to make the election into an enormous joke. Don't talk issues or policy. Make fun of the other guys and put a former beauty queen on the ticket. If they can get the voters to forget that the have any real power and treat the election like a sporting event, they can win.

The country and the world are facing some enormous challenges right now: wars, global warming, food riots, not to mention increased layoffs, bankruptcies and foreclosures.

But don't worry about all that...check out the new babe! Have a bud! (it's okay, you can charge it) and don't forget to Vote Republican!

On the contrary, we have come to know all too much about this absurdly underqualified person -- and even more about McCain's judgment and decision-making process. As far as her having no problem demonstrating her grasp of substantive issues tonight: any fool can read a speech written by someone else. It hardly means they have real familiarity with domestic and foreign policy.

Funny the left, heroes of the poor, oppressed and down trodden will chastise one of their own (single unwed mothers) for political favor. Shame on you hypocrites.She has strength and character, and my vote

-- while at the same time offering up a Vice Presidential candidate with the argument that while she is unknown to the American people we are going to see that she is qualified to step in to the role of President if needed.

"Chris Cillizza wrote: "Palin is the most unknown vice presidential pick in recent history and, as such, her nationally televised acceptance speech will function as her first real introduction to the Republican Party and the average American voter.""

This is the media blaming Sarah Palin for their own sexist incompetence.

They never paid attention to Palin, even though she was vetted and treated just like McCain's other VP possible picks.

The media, in its infinite Democratic liberal condescending sexist belittling view of women, simply ignored Sarah Palin, even as they profiled and covered the males on McCain's VP list!

The Democrats want women to have freedom to choose
And the Democrats will bash and humiliate women who choose life
They will call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They will call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

This is how Democrats treat female executives
This is how they did Hillary and then said there was no sexism
Then they said "there was no sexism, shut up and get on board"

"What we do know is we have a possible Veep who is far outside the mainstream of America." -- What Vetting?

What is "mainstream" now? And what about Sen. Obama? It's difficult to say with a straight face -- after his affiliations with and affinities for both Rev. Wright and William Ayers (sp?) have been exposed -- that Sen. Obama is anywhere close to "mainstream."

The media and the public should concentrate on the real issues facing the country, not gender, children, race, or any other factor that doesn't matter in relation to getting the job done and putting the country back on track. http://mycommentspage.blogspot.com/

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

If the Obamas had a 17 year-old daughter who was unmarried and pregnant by a tough-talking black kid, my guess is if that they all appeared onstage at a Democratic convention and the delegates were cheering wildly, a number of conservatives would be discussing the issue of dysfunctional black families.

The bias of the press and media towards Obama is completely out of control. The "chosen one" spin him and the constant negative attacks on the families of the Republican candidates is obnoxious. Freedom of the press yes, and also, neutrality in reporting the news. WaPo and its ilk make the National Enquirer look like it's won the Pulitzer Prize.
McCain is the person who has demonstrated his leadership, strength, and courage. He even had the guts to choose a strong and capable woman for the VP position. To have the previous VP candidate from the "other party" speak of your qualifications shows the abilities of the McCain/Palin ticket. The only thing I have seen from Obama and his supporters is separation, negativity and big, blank speeches with their mud slinging. Unfortunately, he has the press and media as his lackeys to distribute it. Sad.

That convention was empty and nothing but a bunch of Senior citizens in the audience . I can imagine the smell of all that BENGAY and damp depends. Oh What QVC gave out free jewerly sets to the audience ?

Palin's a fraud: she and McCain try to present her as a reformer and a maverick but what do we know?

She was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it.

She requested millions of federal tax dollars as mayor of Wasilla for pet projects and many millions more as governor.

Now the LA Times states that three times in recent years, McCain's catalogs of "objectionable" spending have included earmarks for Wasilla, earmarks requested by its mayor at the time - Sarah Palin.

Oops. But hey, it's not like Palin was the first Wasilla mayor to go after federal money, right? NOPE. Wasilla had received few if any earmarks before Palin became mayor. She actively sought federal funds - a campaign that began to pay off only after she hired a lobbyist with close ties to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).

There are a lot of liberal men in the liberal media that are intent on putting down any woman who gets near "their" White House. These geeks are often pointy-headed weaklings that have contempt for strong women because they are full of hot air and bigotry. many of them are far behind on child-support payments to the children the left behind.
Unfortunately for Democrats, these creeps are turning women away from the Democrat Party with their hateful attacks on the Palin women and Hillary before them.
Come November, the Democrat Party may be in for a huge dissappointment.
As for me, I'm voting McCain/Palin because I think they are the best choice available. After seeing Wright, Obama's mentor, I just can't vote with my Democrat Party.

I wonder about the actual intelligence of these liberals in running to assassinate the character of Sarah Palin after the job they just finished doing to Hillary!!!!!

The so called educated american snobs fail to see that they will never run this country. The great majority of americans see through this and would repudiate such vile acts. The DNC and Democratic party continue on their road to failure!!!!!

It is obvious the elitists, the Obama/Axelrod/Pelosi crowd aren't one bit concerned about Sarah Palin's daughter who is pregnant, they are worried that Sarah has captured the imagination of a lot of Americans who were shoved out of the political system by Obama, just they way he works - shoving people out of the race so he can run unopposed. He did that in Chicago, he did that to Hillary, and now he is trying to do that to Sarah Palin - I think
Sarah will stand up to him, and win. Obama won't win this election. Sarah has electrified America - gw.

What UTTER nonsense. Either Chris has been drinking too much RNC kool-aid or is still suffering oxygen deprivation from Denver.

WHAT DO YOU THINK the Repubs are going to do, but put on the best face for her? It isn't her future we're concerned about, it's her PAST. And her PAST makes her sound like an escapee from a Looney Toon.

Even Bugs has more sense than she does.

If Huckabee were the VP choice, his positions would be BLASTED by the media, and Palin's positions are JUST AS EXTREME as Huckabee's!

What is she going to say up there, that tomorrow is another day? We're in the process of electing a VP, not Scarlett O'Hara.

Fist of all why you think republicans selected John McCain as a candidate... Think about it...because they are going to lose any ways... there are so many most suitable candidates in republicans, why?
Think guy think…

Being flexible is not a sign of weakness, it is the sign of creative intelligent and wisdom… does you know why I am saying this, only because for the people who voted for one party, rest of their life no matter what happened to the country… its call arrogant and lack of knowledge I believe…
Iraq war is a good example….

>> Zorro wrote: "She is a woman who is not pant suited and tube tied, trying to play a man among feminized boys. She should scarce the liberated who think sex is sport and children an inconvience to be educated by the state."

Democratic women think that they need abortion because weak women can't realize their potential burdened with children. They think that having babies subjucates them and that abortion frees them. They are weak, stupid creatures.

The female Democrats are submissive tools to their party, that the Democratic males can push around and then tell them "shut up and get on board"! They command no political power or respect compared to the men, in their own party.

Democratic females are weak, inferior, and suffer from a peculiar, sexually impoverished feminine impotence. That is why they are so lame and submissive to the abuse of Hillary Clinton this year.

DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: IMPOTENT TOOLS OF THEIR PARTY
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: AFFECTATIONS
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: APPENDAGES TO THE MEN
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: THEY 'SHUT UP AND GET ON BOARD'

When B. Hussien Obama explains how Tony Rezko buys a piece of property and then turns right around and sells it to Obama for far less then what he paid then we can have Palin explain why she wanted a police officer fired for using a taser on his own kid and threaten to kill his in-laws.

All you haters on the left who call yourself men, and have been emasculated buy the gays in your party, need to go home and bake a cake and do you nails. This women is more man than you sissified dunce-o-crat men and that pisses you off.

She could have a penis too for all I care. It's not a question of which sex organs she has.

It's simply a matter of whether she has the qualifications to be the President of the United States unexpectedly during the next 4 years.

>> Zorro wrote: "She is a woman who is not pant suited and tube tied, trying to play a man among feminized boys. She should scarce the liberated who think sex is sport and children an inconvience to be educated by the state."

Democratic women think that they need abortion because women can't realize their potential with children. They think that having babies subjucates them and that abortion frees them.

The female Democrats are submissive tools to their party, that the Democratic males can slap around and tell them "shut up and get on board"! They have no political power or respect compared to the men.

They're weak, and suffer from a peculiar, sexually impoverished feminine impotence. That is why they are so lame and submissive to the abuse of Hillary Clinton this year.

DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: IMPOTENT TOOLS OF THEIR PARTY
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: AFFECTATIONS
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: APPENDAGES TO THE MEN
DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS: THEY SHUT UP AND GET ON BOARD

How can a single speech, written for her by handlers, be a real introduction? Almost anyone can read a speech.

Most of the country had never heard of her prior to having McCain's choice sprung on them. She didn't go through any primaries. She hasn't had any national activity. She's simply a pretty face with a check-list of "views".

The lady parrot is going to give a speach what they put in her mouth. I american people are stupid to bilive her they are saying the mass of Americn people are stupid and galubel no brain to thing what ever they hear they belive . This is an insult to American People Inteligence as they insulted the the American Woman by selecting her all women follow her. This McCane team are act like Mafia and do like Mafia

Out of the golden West they came, Mad Mac the Bombardier and Sarah the Impaler, raring to defeat the enemies of Conservatism. "There's not an environmentalist bone in her body," said Mad Mac of Sarah the Wolf-killer, Sarah the Moose-butcherer. She wants to turn everything into kids! American kids! And she wants to have lots of them herself!"

Being a male foreigner, I am not allowed to vote. However, I have a few observations. (Pardon if my grammar is not the best, I am still learning.)
1) Since when a person has to be highly educated in order to qualify to be a public servant? I would vote for the one who I think would serve the best.
2) Nobody talked about the race issue. Is it because of because Mr. Obama's race? Then why is it ok to talk about gender? Is it because a woman is not qualified? How many men can take care of all the issues that a mother had to deal with at home and be effective at a day job? How come when something goes bad, it is the mother's fault? A woman job is never easy, that is why some rather go to the office and work like a man. How many men would volunteer to stay at home at take care of the kids? If we play the gender card, this woman deserves my respect and if I can vote, she has mine.

If men are born to be leaders, than stand-up and be counted. Let us be fair in all our dealings.

Woman, why don't you unite and put the men to shame. This is a bigger long term issue regardless whether McCain is the next president. It is about the first step for woman. Obama had his chance with Hillary but did not take it so don't blame McCain. At least he is doing something right.

I had not heard the term "servant's heart" previous to Aug 29, 2008:
"We are expected to govern with integrity and clear convictions and a servant's heart," Gov. Palin said.
And consider the 'service' track that John McCain has laid down for a handful of decades.
Two of a kind -- the right kind.

WOMEN STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES! Women will not be fooled for their vote with this inexperienced token named Sarah Palin. There are women out there who are actually qualified for this position! Palin would set women back 20 years! Stand up with Cambell Brown and women throughout the nation!

Chris Cillizza wrote: "Palin is the most unknown vice presidential pick in recent history and, as such, her nationally televised acceptance speech will function as her first real introduction to the Republican Party and the average American voter."
------------------------------------------
Where was Chris Cillizza and CNN and other media people when, in January, I kept saying how did Obama get $60,000,000 in campaign contributions when people in Iowa, during the Iowa caucus, had never heard of Barack Obama.

Obama is the least experienced, and most politically corrupt person in our presidential campaigns. And the media is crazy to send "crews to Alaska" to investigate a 17 year old who is pregnant and will marry the father. Instead, they should have been sending crews to Chicago and Kenya to investigate a pathological liar who gets away with his associations with anti-Americans, corrupt Chicago politicians and domestic terrorists.

Obama is 47.5% Arab - has any media person ever asked Obama why he calls himself black and letting people assume he is African American whereas truthfully he is an Arab. gw.

All you haters on the left who call yourself men, and have been emasculated buy the gays in your party, need to go home and bake a cake and do you nails. This women is more man than you sissified dunce-o-crat men and that pisses you off. Now... go home and cry like the baby you are and let the people with a backbone like Sarah Palin run the county.

Well her and the rest of the clan have to promise they won't live in their trailer on the white house grounds. Also we want some recipes from Todd, I bet he's a real good little homemaker. We also need to hear how she has done such a great job keeping those Ruskies from invading her border, that for that one Cindy.

That lawsuit was dismissed on procedural deadline loophole. That's it, some extension of time to file lawsuits is all the legislation was about, not the basic right to pay parity.

And the case was only meaningful for low-class women who are in some regimented environment where pay is cut and dried and its not hard to tell when you're getting cheated. It's light-years away from how glass ceilings are forced on female executives and professionals.

Oh yeah, pay parity for factory workers is so much more relevant than the women abusive memes that fly around in professional executive circles and that the Democrats and Barack Obama's campaign really mainstreamed this year.

Pay parity is meaningless for professional women who are shut out of top jobs and only men get them. Glass ceilings are where the real lack of progress has been for a dozen years.

John McCain did a wonderful thing for professional women by reopening the debate of the executive-woman abusive memes that were mainstreamed by the Democrats and Obama camp this year.

The Republican women who are rallying around Sarah Palin rock! They are doing very important and wonderful things.

She is a woman who is not pant suited and tube tied, trying to play a man among feminized boys. She should scarce the liberated who think sex is sport and children an inconvience to be educated by the state.

The Republican platform opposes embryonic stem cell research. It denies a woman's right to choose, even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. It fails to mention equal pay for women.

At some point the NRA will endorse her. At some point people will figure out that if a man can be the father to 1,2,3 etc kids and still work why not a woman doing the same? Unless the point is that a woman's place is in the home!
I suppose the ideal thing would be for her to kill a moose, breast feed, knit a sweater and kick some serious ass on stage.
An da ll the while hillary is sething..and trying to figure out what went wrong and how she would have survived the land-stock deal, Bill with his pants down, $500,000 speech fees and the death of her boyfriend. Nothing is for free. At waht point does Biden's ties with Delaware banking and creditcard industry fees come in to play and when does the role his sons play in setting on baords Biden helps regulate factor in? And BO still has not fessed up about his kickjbacks on the Chicago realestate. So watch out this is a 2-way street. And how many of the press could face the heat? Certainly not Rush with his coped drung pleas.

Obama has shown his overwhelmingly impressive comprehension of the issues for the past year and a half...

McCain can answer one follow up...

if it goes beyond that ...then here comes the joke...the Hanoi Hilton cover...or anger at the press.

Palin...has not answered anything.

This is a joke if it wasn't so scary that thiswoman who has not a shred of evidence that she understands the situations we are facing...has been selected as some kind of gimmick / trojan horse...

all in the name of throwing the countries safety and well- being to the wind for McCain's own political dream.
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Sorry to disagree with you but there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in Obama that speaks of true DEEDS. He is all TALK and PROMISES. He is the result of a candidate that has been fabricated by the LEFT in their quest for power. Explain why NOTHING of SUBSTANCE has been researched on his past. When I see his good judgement to remain connected to a Church that discriminated against others, his shady connections to Rezco, Ayers and others FULLY RESEARCHED, VETTED and brought before the american people, then I would start reconsidering.

Our nation is at a crossroad and in the middle of difficult times and I love the opportunities that we still have. So, when I exercise my privilege of voting I would choose that candidate that could take us further ahead, without risking our livelihood. Obama presents too much of a risk and YOU KNOW IT!!!!!!!

McCain makes it sound like together they can change the world. She isn't going to have that much to do with it. Maybe show up in the Senate for a tie vote.

Like MCain once said: "The VP has just two jobs. The first is to ask every morning about the president's health,"

So if he is aruing she will be instrumental in change he is being less than honest. If he is claiming she is experienced enough, or will learn enough on the job, then he is only kidding himself and all the True Believer's who have to accept anything and everything he says. Even if it has been spun at the speed of light.

Let us compare how much space of the WaPo main page is being used for the Republican convention compared to how much space was used for the DNC convention last week. It is settled. The WaPo is owned by the DNC.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

What I would like to see and hear is hard edge, and cutting reporting by The Post on the issue of Senator Obama's ties to anarchist William Ayers. In addition, to know how Senator Biden's influence gained his sons' prominence with hedge funds.

You may as well put out the fire and call in the dogs. This election was decided this week. Senator Obama will not carry the south, the mid west, or the western states sans California. By he picking Senator Plagerist er I mean Biden, he secured the fact that the limosine liberals still don't get it.

God bless America.

Posted by: Mike | September 3, 2008 3:27 PM

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It is refreshing, Mike, to see a few of us among this throng of virulent liberals, with some real common sense. So, DITTO on your comments.

One example - Palin basically told the big oil companies to stuff it. They lobbied us voters HARD to be able to build their own gas pipeline so they could control both supplies and prices even more than they are now. They didn't like following the rules and she told them - no deal! It was great to watch.

How on earth can they be telling the press, rightly, to leave Mrs. Palin's pregnant daughter alone and then they fly the father into St. Paul and put the pregnant couple front and center? Do they have any compassion for these kids at all? They really want to use them as bait, as media fodder, as campaign tools.

This has to be the most shameless stunt I've ever seen. What's next, will they televise their marriage? Make a reality show about the baby's birth?

When a male president is incapable, nobody thinks "men can't lead." That won't hold true for a woman. The first female president has to be well above average, or everyone will say "See? Women can't lead" - and there'll be no more female presidents for a long time. That's why I didn't like Hillary. I think she could have made an average president, but not a good one. She was too afraid to take an unpopular stand on anything, and didn't seem to have any new ideas.

To a lesser extent, the above holds true for a female VP. And Miss Palin seems far far far less capable than Ms Clinton. I hope I'm wrong. I'll watch her speech - though speeches are easy to come by. Facts speak louder. And when you try to ban "objectionable" books from the Wassila town library, and fire the librarian who stands up to you, you are a very dangerous brand of politician indeed.

It's not about what Palin has to say. I'm sure she is a great mom and an adequate governor. This isn't the question.

The only real question is why she should be put into the VP spot to back up the president of the US. She is not who I want to be the next president of the US should McCain have a heart attack. Her choice is bewildering.

His judgement in thinking she is is not acceptable. He cannot honestly say she would be qualified unless he is deluded.

There is no global warming, because the bible teaches that the world is only 6000 years old.

As for actually running the USA, her experience in the hinterlands would not qualify her to be county commissioner in a large urban county in California or New York.
The entire population of Alaska is less than counties in SF BAY area.
Her abuse of power hearing will be postponed so that it doesnt provide any interference.
Her husband wont be making any speeches today. Its enough that she has to memorize HER fake speech.
Her husband is a member of the secessionist party which tries to get Alaska out of the union of states.
Explain that one.

Hi Ya'll, glad to be here in Minneapolis. This sure has been the most fun 4 days of my life and here I am in an NHL hockey rink. WOW. This hockey mom is sure glad to be here.

I know you are expecting me to talk about all of my vast experience in government...its more than Obama mind you. And I am a good card carrying evangelical christian who did god's work in bringing 4 kids, oops I mean 5 kids into this world. And see I am 100% pro-life for the unborn.

Wow, I am just so overwhelmed with excitement. It's almost like being in another country.

But lets get down to the nitty gritty folks. I came here to tell you that while all of this has been fun and exciting, I cannot be your vice president, even though I still don't know what one does as a vice president.

See, I need to stay home and take care of the state of Alaska, which is what I was elected to do, I need to take care of my newborn, and help my grand baby get off to the best start possible. See I really do have family values.

And all that other stuff in my story...well here's the truth. I am just a plain woman from a small down who had huge dreams and did and said anything I could to make those dreams come true. And now that I am standing here, I find that it is my family that I am most worried about. To have fame, power, and glory at the expense of my children is not worth it.

So thank all you GOP people for being so nice to me and forgive me, I made a mistake; I need to go home and take care of my responsibilities. I am really sorry to disappoint you, but ya'll share my values so you can understand where I am coming from and I am sure you would do the same in my position.

Obama has shown his overwhelmingly impressive comprehension of the issues for the past year and a half...

McCain can answer one follow up...

if it goes beyond that ...then here comes the joke...the Hanoi Hilton cover...or anger at the press.

Palin...has not answered anything.

This is a joke if it wasn't so scary that thiswoman who has not a shred of evidence that she understands the situations we are facing...has been selected as some kind of gimmick / trojan horse...

all in the name of throwing the countries safety and well- being to the wind for McCain's own political dream.
----------------------------------------
Sorry to disagree with you but there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in Obama that speaks of true DEEDS. He is all TALK and PROMISES. He is the result of a candidate that has been fabricated by the LEFT in their quest for power. Explain why NOTHING of SUBSTANCE has been researched on his past. When I see his good judgement to remain connected to a Church that discriminated against others, his shady connections to Rezco, Ayers and others FULLY RESEARCHED, VETTED and brought before the american people, then I would start reconsidering.

Our nation is at a crossroad and in the middle of difficult times and I love the opportunities that we still have. So, when I exercise my privilege of voting I would choose that candidate that could take us further ahead, without risking our livelihood. Obama presents too much of a risk and YOU KNOW IT!!!!!!!

ST. PAUL -- Top Republican women held a fiery press conference today to denounce what they consider to be sexist smears from the Obama campaign and the media against Gov. Sarah Palin.

"We want to call attention to the outrageous smear campaign against Sarah Palin," said former Mass. Gov. Jane Swift. "With her years of executive experience and legislative accomplishments, she is more experienced than Sen. Barack Obama" to become president.

"Gov. Palin's experience is in running a state," added Swift. "Barack Obama's experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign."

What I would like to see and hear is hard edge, and cutting reporting by The Post on the issue of Senator Obama's ties to anarchist William Ayers. In addition, to know how Senator Biden's influence gained his sons' prominence with hedge funds.

You may as well put out the fire and call in the dogs. This election was decided this week. Senator Obama will not carry the south, the mid west, or the western states sans California. By he picking Senator Plagerist er I mean Biden, he secured the fact that the limosine liberals still don't get it.

Let's face it. If ten words of Palin's speech tonight are hers, it will be a miracle. How's she with the Teleprompter? Is she going to try to bash Obama or give us some insight into what she believes and just what her ideas are on the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, global warming, alternative energy et al. Haven't a clue.

What we do know is we have a possible Veep who is far outside the mainstream of America. No reproductive rights, no sex education, the spreading of "creationism" versus "evolution", no rights for the LGBT community, membership in a church that may, yes may, encouage anti-Semitism, attemps to have her former brother-in-law fired and doubts about her "parenting" skills AND dedication to someone other than herself. It's not "sexism", but our right to know who could have their finger on the "button".

A number of people are right. Is this a Jerry Springer style "White Trash on Steroids"? Judge Judy, where are you. I haven't even started on the negatives for the kids. No, Steve Schmidt, the media is not trying to "destroy" Sarah Palin. Her own record and actions are doing just fine, thank you very much.

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

how about everything coming out of your keyboard and Palin's policies and promises (none of which we have had answers to because they are hiding her away like the bionic woman..."we can rebuild her...") doesn't help women.

Judgment is the issue at stake, and both McCain and Palin have brought bad judgment to a whole new level and become the poster adults for bad judgment and bad choices. The very sad part of this whole fiasco is the fact that they BOTH have knowinly exposed her children to all this embarrassment and scrutiny; all for the sake of power and ego.

McCain wins in November, after edging out Obama in OH an CO. He croaks a few months later.

Pres. Palin finishes flushing America down the toilette (or worse) and the world will be asking how did Americans blow it yet again, after having the chance to vote for a talented young Senator from Illinois?

The Democrats want women to have freedom to choose
And the Democrats will bash and humiliate women who choose life
They will call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They will call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

This is how they did Hillary and then said there was no sexism
This is how Democrats treat female executives
Then they said "there was no sexism, shut up and get on board"

The Democrats want women to have freedom to choose
And the Democrats will bash and humiliate women who choose life
They will call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They will call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

This is how they did Hillary and then said there was no sexism
This is how Democrats treat female executives
Then they said "there was no sexism, shut up and get on board"

The Democrats want women to have freedom to choose
And the Democrats will bash and humiliate women who choose life
They will call them stupid and trashy and unfit to hold office
They will call working mothers unfit moms and unfit professionals

This is how they did Hillary and then said there was no sexism
This is how Democrats treat female executives
Then they said "there was no sexism, shut up and get on board"

Judgment is the issue at stake, and both McCain and Palin have brought bad judgment to a whole new level become the poster adults for bad judgment and bad choices. The very sad part of this whole fiasco is the fact that they BOTH have knowinly exposed her children to all this embarrassment and scrutiny; all for the sake of power and ego.

Is there any evidence to support this claim? It's intriguing, but not if it's slander

"explain why Levi Johnston shouldn't be arrested as a pedophile, that's what she needs to do. This is his second child; the first was with a 13 year old girl. Even by Alaskan standards (which are very loose) that is a bit young."

it is a massive waterfall of scandals ethical questions hypocrisies flip flops firings business closures...secession husbands denaials of science...etc

what is the media supposed to do exactly...
especially since this woman won't answer simple questions like what's the difference between sunni and shia...and why did the campaign lie about you taking a separate trip to ireland and where is georgia on a map...

Religiously and otherwise, I believe Sarah Palin should withdraw herself from the VP position, a spot that could land her in the president’s office at a heartbeat. Here are my reasons, among other things.
1. No one tries to solve a problem (teenage pregnancy) by showing that they have the problem. Though it puts her in a position to empathize with other mothers, the best leader is one who prevents the problem in the first place; thus showing that she can help other mothers by, at least, setting an example.
2. The bible says that if a person cannot govern his/her own household, they cannot govern a public office. (1 Timothy 3: 4&5
3. Her daughter is a bad example for my daughter, your daughter and Bristol’s other sisters. Seventeen (17) year-olds should be in school not anywhere else. According to the bible, one should first clear his/her eyes first before he/she tries to help someone clear theirs. (Matt 7: 5)
4. It gives a negative impression about McCain’s judgment.

We're only having this conversation because she's got lady parts. How can I say such a thing? Easy. If everything about her resume were the same, and she was a man, would she be on the ticket? Of course not. So if this is the deciding factor in this election, and I hope to God we're all a little smarter than that, then this country can go to hell.

JD writes
"As Rush mentioned today, sad that the media has decided to fill the news void, after the cancellation of Day 1 of the convention, with attacks on Palin. ... They've really shown their true colors."

That's one interpretation. Another is that the McCain campaign has very effectively stolen the spotlight from Obama & retrained it on themselves. That was the goal of the Palin pick, wasn't it?

Just so I can understand liberal "logic"; explain to me 1) How the beloved Teddy Kennedy can murder a young woman and be re-elected 25 times as a Democratic senator, 2) How Robert Byrd can serve as a kleagle in the KKK and be the Democrats longest sitting senator 3) Why if a teenage kid of a Republican gets caught doing what virtually all teenagers have done - somehow her mother’s character, values, and ability to govern are called into question.

It has long been obvious that the liberals today live by a double standard. After what they did to Hillary, I am just trying to figure out if it is sexism or just tiresome loathing of Republicans.

Maybe some further questioning will help clarify the matter.

Is this the same "logic” that calls GWB a war monger equal to Hitler when it seemed perfectly fine that, after 55 million had already been killed under FDR, Truman incinerated 300,000 civilians in an instant (Remember that liberal credo "the end does not justify the means") while Kennedy and Johnson killed millions more in Vietnam?

Is this the same "logic" that says “we must keep people from developing or farming the wilderness so only a select few can use that land when they camp and hike”?

Is this the same “logic” that has liberals screaming about the price of oil and the environment in the same breath?

Is this the same “logic” that allows a pseudo-intellectual, coffee shop elitist liberal to walk into Starbucks and pay over $50 a gallon for a cup of coffee and sit around and piss and moan for hours about the social inequities of $3.00 a gallon gas?

Is this the same “logic” that made hippies the icons of the 1960's left as they drove VW beetles with pro-environment decals pasted all over the knowing that car was undeniably worst polluting automobile ever manufactured?

Is this the same “logic” that says Democrats are for civil rights when Lincoln was a Republican and the Civil Rights act of 1964 almost failed because of fierce opposition and filibustering from Democrats?

Is this the same "logic" that says we must do everything we can to save the life of some obscure snail that nobody has ever or will ever see or someone who has murdered numerous people but it's perfectly fine to suck the brains out of unborn children in an effort to kill them and call it an a abortion?

Is this the same “logic” that says abstinence only sex education doesn’t work when virtually every girl who becomes pregnant had been taught endlessly about birth control meaning that that isn’t working either but you never seem to mention that in all your rants?

Is this the same “logic” that says liberalism is about individual freedom and the uncensored expression of one’s beliefs in an effort to make the country a better place but it is complete fine to openly encourage that conservatives be ridiculed for practicing their own form of religion, expressing their opinions towards public education, the war, welfare, the death penalty, abortion, etc, etc, etc?

Is this the same “logic” that makes the National Organization of Women say women get inferior care because the health care industry is biased towards men yet men live on average 7 years less than woman?

Is this the same “logic” that espouses redistribution of wealth but never seems to get around to addressing investment of time, commitment of money, risk of losing everything, or endless liability?

Is this the same “logic” that caused Obama to pick Biden who received less than 900 votes and was the first candidate to drop out the Democratic primaries yet walk away from Hillary who had 18,000,000 votes?

Is this the same “logic” that required the networks to run stories and air the photos of the underwear laden prisoners at Abu grab 100 times more than the stories regarding the decapitated civilian prisoners of Al Qaeda?

Is this the same “logic” that demanded we not quarantine AIDS victims when the virus was first exposed in the early 80”s because it would be a violation of human rights, so instead 10’s of millions of additional people have been killed by the virus?

Is this the same “logic” that dictates only a woman has a right to control her own body and decide on abortion, but if she becomes pregnant and decides to keep the baby then a man has to pay her for that decision for the next 18+ years?

If it is, now I see why the Democrats would nominate someone with literally no experience to lead the country and who has a verified history of participation in racist’s organizations and has chronicled a life which has been led by mentors who are communist’s sympathizers, convicted felons, and anti American zealots.

I have followed through the numerous comments posted in the various newspapers and websites on Sarah Palin and am not surprised at the liberal and elite crowd running and in their haste publish any kind of innuendo. This is unfortunately what we have in the Democratic party today wanting to take charge of this country.

I was surprised by McCain's choice, but after reflection, it speaks quite a bit of himself at using the element of surprise to his advantage. Palin's first speech said a lot about this candidate. I am willing to bet that she will astound the liberal media and suceed in her further appearances. After all of the dirty tricks employed by the Obama campaign to bury Hillary Clinton, nothing will serve them their just reward as a successful first Republican Vice Presidential bid. In this life we pay our dirty deeds and I think that KARMA will hit the left media and Democrats in a way that they failed to imagine.

The american public and specially women will get even in November. Hillary and Bill ought to be celebrating in private!!!!

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

While I don't expect Sarah Palin to energize too many Democrats disappointed at Hillary Clinton's loss to vote Republican, the prospect that choosing her will motivate religous conservatives to become more active in the Presidential campaign is likely to be a real factor.

I've been wondering how harsh she'll try to get in serving up the usual red meat fare one expects at the Nuremberg-rallyesque Republican conventions. What she might end up serving is moose meat--some criticism but not a Zell Miller type vile-fest. Because she's fair game herself and never mind the "experience" angle, she's got some baggage and an ongoing scandal to answer for. She shouldn't be trotting around her teenage daughter, either, making her babysitter in the spotlight. I've got a sixteen-year-old daughter (who isn't pregnant) and I'd never subject her to the media circus like that. It's not necessary. Palin will end up being more Paris Hilton than Hillary Clinton, more pretty face than skilled public servant. She's got some flaky ideas and ought to go back to the land of Nanook of the North. Don't eat the yellow snow. Frank Zappa, where are you when we need you.

The media slept while Bush faked the pretences for war against Iraq. Now they cower lest FOX get all the stories.
The media are dead meat except for NBC.
Maybe CNN will wake up now that they were spurned by prince McCain.

I think she should tell the world that she was a model and did many things in her past to shame herself and her family and cannot accept the nomination but would like to recommend John McCain to withdraw himself from the race and allow the most brillinat, most honest, most capable and above all most humane Brak Obama to be our NEXT PRESIDENT UN-OPPOSED. She will be remembered for ever in our History for her bravery and statemanship.

I am so impressed by these Republican women rallying around Sarah Palin and denouncing the sexism and saying they won't stand for it.

OMG it is thrilling, and so long over due.

After everything the media and the Obama campaign did to her, the Democrats all pay lip service to Clinton now, saying "She had a groundbreaking campaign". The only ground that Democratic sexist orgy of misogynism broke was how to gleefully and publicly bash executive women.

For better or worse, McCain and Palin have opened up the debate about how to treat female executives and the Republican women are closing ranks around her and rallying to her defense.

The reason Palin's lack of experience is an issue is because the McCain campaign made experience a prime issue, before picking her. So her relative lack of experience is very relevant to how McCain makes decisions and how consistent he is.

But the GOP praise was ringing a false tone with Linda Fowler, a Dartmouth College professor of government and an expert on legislative bodies and national politics.

Fowler said the choice of Palin “looks like a very cynical effort to bring the evangelical right into the fold,” especially given the 72-year-old McCain's limited contact with Palin prior to naming her to the ticket.

“To say that her lack of experience on the national scene doesn't matter because he's got foreign policy covered … I think it’s reckless, and I think it shows a real disregard for understanding that for this candidate in particular, fitness to assume the mantle of the presidency if something were to happen to him is a real issue,” said Fowler.

She also took on Republican arguments that sought to equate Palin's background with that of Obama and Biden. Fowler said being a state senator from Illinois, as Obama was for several years, is far more challenging than being a small-town mayor in Alaska, and that the U.S. Senate was far more demanding than the governor's office in Juneau.

“What people should understand is the state of Alaska basically lives off oil royalties, so the governor doesn't have to make hard choices,” Fowler said. “To say she is commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard, this just doesn't pass any test of seriousness in my view.”

Although I don't believe that the role of every woman is to stay home with the kids. In this situation (Pregnant 17yr old, DS baby), dragging them into the international political stage in such a clumsy way does seem inappropriate. Her family may pay heavily for her ambition. A woman should be able to go into the work force, but a parent should always put family first!

I don't understand all the Palin-must-do-this Palin-must-do-that stuff here. Palin's speech will be written for her by a committee of savvy Republican advertising and propaganda people. Maybe Uncle Karl himself will be involved. They will make up whatever they feel they have to make up. All Palin is going to do is get up and read the stuff as convincingly as possible -- an acting job. Her character and intentions will be a very, very small part of the stew, if indeed they form any part of it at all.

"Blame the media"---the telltale sign of a campaign going down the toilet. McCain is paying the price for an impulsive, ill-considered, unvetted decision to throw a bone to the Christian right by making Sarah Palin his VP pick. Since she's never before appeared on the national stage, naturally she invites media scrutiny which turns up ton of baggage McCain should have known about before making the decision. Now he angrily lashes out at the media for a "conspiracy," which basically consists of their collective refusal to roll over for him as they've always done in the past. All the proof we need that by judgment and temperament, John McCain is ill-suited to the Presidency of the United States.

In 2005, Palin Obtained a Business License For Marketing and Consulting, Saying that She Wanted To Line
Up Her Ducks if She Chose to Pursue It. Asked about the business registered under her name, Palin
said, “Rouge Cou, it’s a classy way of saying redneck. It’s a French word, rouge is red, cou is neck. It’s
for marketing and consulting, in case I wanted to go that route ” [Anchorage Daily
News (Alaska), 6/8/05]

This is a classic example of the ages old situation described as "being caught between a rock and a hard place". There is simply no way to explain away the reckless and irresponsible decision by McSame to have Mrs. Palin as his running mate. On the one hand, if McSame thoroughly investigated Mrs. Palin's background, then how can one explain the decision to place a 17-yr old pregnant teenager in the glare of a Presidential campaign. On the other hand, if McSame did not thoroughly investigate Palin before choosing her as his running mate, then how can that snap judgment be characterized as wise and prudent. No, the G.O.P. spin machine will never dig McSame out of this one. He's screwed either way he turns for no matter what he did, he proved himself to be a very poor and dangerous candidate for President of the United States. Obama/Biden 08!!!

To inject sexism in every discussion about Palin is actually sexist in itself. Just because she is a woman doesn't mean she is immune to any scrutiny. She is the one that stated Hillary shouldn't "whine" when being scrutinized by the media. The fact that there is such an usually low bar set for Palin's speech and even debate is VERY and people should ask why she is given a hall pass. As an intelligent feminist (and Hillary supporter), I am appalled that women feel like this is a supposed representation of our progress. This hall pass only represents regress.

Furthermore, to argue that the questioning of Palin's credentials is sexist by the same party that questions Obama's credentials which is possibly due to racism is not only hypocritical, but hysterical.

I will not scrutinize poor Palin's record, or lack of, but instead wonder... What does this say about McCain's judgment? He only met her once and that was enough? And is it okay to abandon the "experience" platform to bring on a risky candidate? Can his camp really call the sexism card when they refused to admit that racism existed in their comments regarding Obama's patriatism... Give me a break..

The media has gone over the top in their smear campaign on Sarah Palin, they make the Enquirer look like Nobel Prize journalism.

Clearly the media is giving Sarah the same treatment as Hillary. Meanswhile Obama is putting "protect your choice" and be afraid ads on the air.

Come on - women - I am a Democrat but have come to realize with this election that we have failed ourselves and been failed by our country. Do not let Obama scare you and do not let the gender biased media scare you.

We need to put one goal above all others - equal opportunity. Without this the issue of choice is meaningless as we will never be respected enough to make our own choice let alone leade others.

Hillary did not get an equal opportunity and niether is Sarah Palin - how much more are you guys going to take?

Make your vote count for real change in America - vote for an equal chance - vote for sarah Palin!

This is one Democratic woman, working woman, earning 77 cents to the dollar of my male peers who is urging you to do so.

Upon the announcement of Mr. McCain's VP pick, I was filled with joy that true "change" had taken place right in front of my eyes.

Today, on the other hand was a day filled with mud slinging however.

Do you know what I noticed today? There is a common denominator here... the bloggers and news makers(likely mostly men, but not all) are rallying once again to flush out a WOMAN that has pledged to be a leader in our society... JUST LIKE HILLARY!!

And this makes me think to a situation I was in when I was younger, where someone was saying something about me that just wasn't true. And being the non-combatant type that I am, I put up with it for quite awhile (just like Hillary).

And then one day it dawned on me... and I went straight to the source of mis-information and told the person that if they new what was better for them that they would stop the nonsense. And I was serious as a heart attack. And guess what? That person stopped spreading the lie.

So the point of my story is this: I believe that Gov. Palin should come out and attack the nay-sayers Head-ON (figuratively of course, and without looking out-of-control). Perhaps if all of these pulitzer-prize seeking, fly-by-the-seat of the pants writers were to truly be challenged, in a way that shows how small they are.. then they would get the idea and stop the nonsense.

Governor Palin, I don't really know who you are, but your Resume thus far says a lot. Over the next few days, I HOPE YOU GIVE THEM HELL LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT! I HOPE YOU SHOW THEM THAT YOU'RE SUCH AN OUTSTANDING LEADER AND LION-HEART THAT THEY WILL FOREVER RESPECT YOUR NAME AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OTHERS AROUND YOU.

Please let your speech tomorrow be the one that illuminates just how PETTY and utterly dull Mr. Obama's rehearsed speech was the other day.

There are two kinds of people in this world: the kind that fold when the going gets tough, and the kind like John McCain and Sarah Palin, who FIGHT and BRING AMERICA FORWARD TO A BETTER PLACE!!!

Go McCain / Palin 2008!!

Our hearts and minds and American spirits count on you to bring us through!!!

JUST PICKED THIS STORY UP ON THE NET: "Palin's husband has been active in an Alaska secession movement and she has attended meetings of the secessionist organization; Palin helped run a '527' third party political group of the kind McCain has adamantly criticized in the past." This is being reported from Alaska media...

Palin's "speech" tonite is much adu about nuthin... Palin will be taling into a camera/mic...reading from a teleprompter.

She will not answer questions. She can finish up and walk off to applaud whenever she wants. There is no risk involved tonite. This is NOT a debate or even an interview.

She was once a sportscaster...she can read from a teleprompter...how can she screw up. If she barfs, the GOP Convention will applaud. I don't blame them - they are in a desperate situation. Polls already have Obama capturing 50% and there has not even been a debate yet.

She will look back and forth across the convention hall, reading the talking points from teleprompters. Family, country, change, values, hockey, McSame, blah blah blah. The applause light will go off over her head, and the party faithful will go apes**t. Balloons will fall, her mulleted clan will join her onstage, some dopey Carrie Underwood song will play. Flash to Hannity & Co., rubbing one out and lying through their teeth about what a magnificent and smart gamble she was. Two days after the convention McCain/Palin will pull to within the margin of error, maybe even surge past Obama/Biden.

Palin will be under lock and key until the VP debates, when GOP strategy, taking the most effective play from the Clinton playbook, will be to ensure that Biden and the moderators look like they are picking on her, even though I think she would be a savvy foil for a guy who sticks his foot in it daily. America loves the underdog, especially when she's victimized.

No matter, because whatever gain to be gotten from Gov. Palin will be offset by the cranky McSame or his short-sighted, money hungry, power-mad surrogates.

Period. Rick Davis is right that its personalities, not issues, because the dopey electorate thinks things like abortion, creationism, moose-hunting, and mulleted teen-age fathers are issues. The GOP already has its sheep bleating the party-line (Zouk, AssperGirl, etc.), and only has to convince 10% of whoever is left that the above are issues. If it keeps Cheney, Lieberman, Dobson, etc. out of sight, it may have a chance.

JUST PICKED THIOS STORY UP ON THE NET: "Palin's husband has been active in an Alaska secession movement and she has attended meetings of the secessionist organization; Palin helped run a '527' third party political group of the kind McCain has adamantly criticized in the past." This is being reported from Alaska media...

An illustration of that gap came just two weeks ago, when Palin’s church, the Wasilla Bible Church, gave its pulpit over to a figure viewed with deep hostility by many Jewish organizations: David Brickner, the executive director of Jews for Jesus.

Palin’s pastor, Larry Kroon, introduced Brickner on Aug. 17, according to a transcript of the sermon on the church’s website.

“He’s a leader of Jews for Jesus, a ministry that is out on the leading edge in a pressing, demanding area of witnessing and evangelism,” Kroon said.

Brickner then explained that Jesus and his disciples were themselves Jewish.

“The Jewish community, in particular, has a difficult time understanding this reality,” he said.
Brickner’s mission has drawn wide criticism from the organized Jewish community, and the Anti-Defamation League accused them in a report of “targeting Jews for conversion with subterfuge and deception.”

Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity.

"Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It's very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can't miss it."

Palin was in church that day, Kroon said, though he cautioned against attributing Brickner’s views to her.

The executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, Ira Forman, cited the “cultural distance” between Palin and almost all American Jews.

Anyone comparing Palin to Hillary Clinton has got to be on crack. I am not even going to bother with the details but suffice it to say that Hillary wasn't running on her experience as a runner up beauty queen, high school basketball player, mayor of a town of 5000, and Governor or the smallest population state in America (for less than 2 years). Even her education is almost a joke, a couple of community colleges then a journalism degree from Idaho? Clinton and Obama, and McCain have years and years of working in politics and comunity service. Though McCain's education is a bit spotty, Hillary and Obama have advanced degrees from top Universities. And the political beliefes of Palin should scare everyone but the 10% of Americans on the far far right who believe that George Bush was sent to us by God.

Can anyone even imagine the unspeakable horror that would be America if McCain died and Palin became President. We are already the laughing stock around the world, what will they think when some red neck from Alaska is President? This isn't about sexism, or a pregnant 17 year old, it's about who we want representing America, who we want as commander and chief. Nobody can seriously expect that Palin is the one for that job.

I love the summary on the Post website: "since John McCain surprised the country" with his pick. Aren't all picks a surprise? This pick just wasn't familiar to Washington insiders, pundits and press. I love how the press is attacking her just because she's from outside the beltway. Give me a break.

Oh, and please folks, can we refrain from any more troll posts about Bristol - she's only 17. Have you no sensitivity for this girl?

Don't kill the messenger. That's all the media is. You can ignore the message, but don't pretend the subject of interest is the messenger. If you don't like what is being said about your candidate, at least keep your ears open. Palin isn't running for PTA president, she is running for VP of the U.S. and could possibly end up leader of the free world. She has put herself in the position of us wanting to know everything about someone we would entrust that position with. I expect the media to find out everything they can and report it. Can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

For all of those that are saying here that we would be in trouble if the McCain ticket succeeds think for a second about Obama, his total lack of true qualifications and INABILITY to make decisions when an emergency arises. Do you think that a great majority of americans don't see through this?

I am also wondering about Obama appearing on O'Reilly on Thursday and before McCain speaks. It is evident that Obama's true colors are emerging. McCain had the decency to wait until Obama gave his speech. This proves all of Obama's underhanded and dirty tactics.

The news agencies are under heavy censorship today. A lot of links by google news and news.com etc this morning have started to point to news articles about Palin that have been taken down. They all point to pages that no longer exist. McCain and his operatives have gone after the news organizations like a swarm of african killer bees. US news organizations are starting to look like that in China. Pretty soon the McCain operatives will be putting people in the slammer for speaking against Palin. Watch out news writers. They don't provide internet connection or blackberys in the slammer.

The election of this women is just another indicator of how sterile western civilization has unraveled. Women need to be at home bearing, and caring for, children. Does McCain understand the message he is sending? Everyone agrees that breakdown of the family is the root of all our problems. Pathetically these same individuals support policy and ideas that ruin families. Even Muslims know better than to disrupt natures roles. Also the idea of a 44 year model becoming president and leading the armed forces is ridiculous.

Conventional wisdom aside, the most crucial task facing the Republicans is to demonstrate their appeal beyond their base. What does it matter how enthusiastically Palin is viewed by die-hard Republicans if she turns off the independents with her extremism and resemblance to Bush's inflexibility and lack of curiosity?

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SHE CAN EXPLAIN IS WHY WOULD WE ENTRUST OUR MILITARY AND OUR NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT IS OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF HOLY WARS AND END TIMES!!!!

THIS AND OF COURSE "WHAT EXACTLY CAN YOU CITE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS EXPERIENCE". THE DESIRE TO SEE THE WORLD GO UP IN A FIREBALL TO USHER IN THE SECOND COMING IS NOT A GOOD ANSWER.

And the so-called Democratic "feminists" stood by silent
Obsessing over Clinton's sexuality with jokes and ridicule
Mainstream media covered Clinton's cleavage, pantsuits and thighs
Obama supporters pushed Chelsea about her father's sexuality at forums
Calling Chelsea Clinton "pimped out" by her parents
Every week finding some new demeaning stereotype to hang on her: "first wife", "mother in law", "vampirella" and on and on

DEMOCRATIC FEMINISTS IS AN INTERNALLY CONTRADICTORY

The Democratic party, when it comes to female executive treatment, is a place where women can go to be second class professionals expected to defer to the men, who have no voice or authority except when they use it to support the males' agendas.

What a bunch of impotent, uncle-tom females those Democratic women are!

The reason why feminism appeared to have stalled for all these decades was because we were paying attention to the Democrats, not the Republicans.

Those Republican women rock! That press conference they gave today was awesome!

Sarah Palin rocks!

Democratic women are tools of their party, affectations and appendages.

who cares about her speech? It's over. She needs to go home & tend to her young and growing family, perahps become a model for an eyeglass company or something in what little spare time is left after that...

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the featured speaker at the Grand Old Party conference tonight. I can hardly wait.

I imagine Gov. Palin will talk about "Family Values" and being a "Hockey Mom." She should talk about becoming a "Soccer Mom" because if we follow the Bush McCain energy strategy the tundra will melt and soccer will replace fishing in Alaska. Who cares if we lose New Oleans, Florida, the Outer Banks, the Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod. We got Alaska. Some of it's high and dry. As my song goes:

Who cares about those Polar Bears.
I got my baby seal fur coat.
I got mine and I got no cares,
Got no room left on this new houseboat.

From "Sunbathing In Siberia" by XB Cold Fingers. Used with permission.

Palin will talk about energy. For Palin "energy independence" is nuclear power, with tons of radioactive waste, "clean coal," with the high costs of mercury, and carbon sequestration, and offshore drilling, including the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR. I don't expect to hear her talk about solar power and wind power. I don't expect to hear her talk about "Global Warming" or the need to move from fossil fuels to modern energy sources.

"Clean Coal" is like "Abstinence." It's not realistic, and therefore it's bad policy.

Palin will probably not mention trying to fire Alaska's Public Safety commisioner Monahan because he wouldn't fire the state trooper who divorced her sister. She will probably talk about fighting corruption and her support of Senator Ted Stevens. It looks like, at least part of the time, she fights corruption in Alaska by sending it to Washington.

Palin will talk about her willingness to serve, and her experience: her B. A. In Journalism from Idaho State, her winning "First Runner Up" in the "Miss Alaska" contest - she didn't even Win! Her experience as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a metropolis of 7,000, almost two years as Governor of Alaska. How exactly does Sarah Palin compare to Joe Biden? His family is bigger than Wasilla, Alaska. I am supposed to believe she can take over as President of the United States and Commander in Chief if something happens to McCain?

I don't get McCain. He complained that Obama is popular, called him a celebrity, compared him to Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears. Then in his first "Presidential" decision, he picked a woman Brittney and Paris could relate to. Altho, given their lifestyles or profession both Spears and Hilton have more overseas experience. Maybe he saw Hilton's ad and decided to pick her, but she turned him down. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Three months ago, Sarah Palin said at her church that our leaders sent US soldiers on a task that was from God in regard to US invasion of Iraq. George W. Bush also claimed the same thing about God telling him to invade Iraq.
I will not be surprised today, after loud applause from fellow republicans, she starts her speech with
"Oh God! Oh God! Yes, yes, I am coming,
yes, I am coming here today to ..."
By the way, if you believe that people could talk to God, vote for them.

Eight years ago, then Governor George W. Bush revealingly joked about his backers at the 2000 Al Smith Dinner. "This is an impressive crowd - the haves and the have-mores," Bush said, adding, "Some people call you the elites; I call you my base." With his own quip Saturday night that "$5 million" is his definition of "rich," John McCain made no mistake that he is Bush's natural heir.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being happily rich and utterly detached. Nothing, that is, unless you make criticizing your political opponent as "elitist" and "out of touch" a centerpiece of your campaign. Rick Davis, speaking on behalf of his $100 million man John McCain, earlier this month offered the latest formulation of Barack Obama as an effete, aloof denizen of the upper class:

"Only celebrities like Barack Obama go to the gym three times a day, demand 'MET-RX chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew - Black Forest Berry Honest Tea' and worry about the price of arugula."
Of course, Davis' "arugula war" is just another attempt at misdirection. After all, John McCain's $5 million threshold where "you move from middle class to rich" is just the latest episode of his enduring disconnect from the real lives of the American people.

For starters, McCain in April declared that there had been "great progress economically" during the Bush years. On more than one occasion, he diagnosed Americans' concerns over the dismal U.S. economy as "psychological." (Phil Gramm, McCain's close friend and adviser supposedly excommunicated over his "whiners" remarks, was back with the campaign last week.) McCain, a man who owns eight homes nationwide, in March lectured Americans facing foreclosure that they ought to be "doing what is necessary -- working a second job, skipping a vacation, and managing their budgets -- to make their payments on time." And when all else fails, McCain told the people of the economically devastated regions in Martin County, Kentucky and Youngstown, Ohio, there's always eBay.

In his defense, McCain's shocking tone-deafness may just be a matter of perspective. When you're as well off as he is, anything below a $5 million income (a figure exceeding that earned on average by the top 0.1% of Americans) seems middle class.

*The $100 Million Man*
Courtesy of his wife Cindy's beer distribution fortune (one her late father apparently chose not to share with her half-sister Kathleen), the McCains are worth well over $100 million. (In the two-page tax summary she eventually released to the public, Cindy McCain reported another $6 million in 2006.) As Salon reported back in 2000, the second Mrs. McCain's millions were essential in launching her husband's political career. Unsurprisingly, the Weekly Standard's Matthew Continetti, who four years ago called Theresa Heinz-Kerry a "sugar mommy," has been silent on the topic of Cindy McCain.

*The Joys of (Eight) Home Ownership*
While fellow adulterer John Edwards was pilloried for his mansion, John McCain's eight homes around the country have received little notice or criticism. His properties include a 10 acre lake-side Sedona estate, euphemistically called a "cabin" by the McCain campaign, and a home featured in Architectural Digest. The one featuring "remote control window coverings" was recently put up for sale. Still, their formidable resources did not prevent the McCains from failing to pay taxes on a tony La Jolla, California condo used by Cindy's aged aunt.

*The Anheuser-Busch Windfall*
As it turns out, the beauty of globalization is in the eye of the beholder. While John McCain apparently played a critical role in facilitating DHL's takeover of Airborne (and with it, the looming loss of 8,000 jobs in Wilmington, Ohio), Cindy McCain is set to earn a staggering multi-million dollar pay-day from the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by the Belgian beverage giant, In Bev. As the Wall Street Journal reported in July, Mrs. McCain runs the third largest Anheuser-Busch distributorship in the nation, and owns between $2.5 and $5 million in the company's stock. Amazingly, while Missouri's politicians of both parties lined up to try to block the sale, John McCain held a fundraiser in the Show Me State even as the In Bev deal was being finalized.

*McCain's $370,000 Personal Tax Break*
Earlier this year, the Center for American Progress analyzed John McCain's tax proposals. The conclusion? McCain's plan is radically more regressive than even that of President Bush, delivering 58% of its benefits to the wealthiest 1% of American taxpayers. McCain's born-again support for the Bush tax cuts has one additional bonus for Mr. Straight Talk: the McCains would save an estimated $373,000 a year.

*Paying Off $225,000 Credit Card Debt - Priceless*
That massive windfall from his own tax plan will come in handy for John McCain. As was reported in June, the McCains were carrying over $225,000 in credit card debt. The American Express card - don't leave your homes without it.

*Charity Begins at Home*
As Harpers documented earlier this year, the McCains are true believers in the old saying that charity begins at home:

Between 2001 and 2006, McCain contributed roughly $950,000 to [their] foundation. That accounted for all of its listed income other than for $100 that came from an anonymous donor. During that same period, the McCain foundation made contributions of roughly $1.6 million. More than $500,000 went to his kids' private schools, most of which was donated when his children were attending those institutions. So McCain apparently received major tax deductions for supporting elite schools attended by his children.
Ironically, the McCain campaign last week blasted Barack Obama for having attended a private school in Hawaii on scholarship. That attack came just weeks after John McCain held an event at his old prep school, Episcopal High, an institution where fees now top $38,000 a year.

*Private Jet Setters*
As the New York Times detailed back in April, John McCain enjoyed the use of his wife's private jet for his campaign, courtesy of election law loopholes he helped craft. Despite the controversy, McCain continued to use Cindy's corporate jet. For her part, Cindy McCain says that even with skyrocketing fuel costs, "in Arizona the only way to get around the state is by small private plane."

*Help on the Homefront*
In these tough economic times, the McCains are able to stretch their household budget. As the AP reported in April, "McCain reported paying $136,572 in wages to household employees in 2007. Aides say the McCains pay for a caretaker for a cabin in Sedona, Ariz., child care for their teenage daughter, and a personal assistant for Cindy McCain."

*Well-Heeled in $520 Shoes*
If clothes make the man, then John McCain has it made. As Huffington Post noted in July, "He has worn a pair of $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes on every recent campaign stop - from a news conference with the Dalai Lama to a supermarket visit in Bethlehem, PA." It is altogether fitting that McCain wore the golden loafers during a golf outing with President George H.W. Bush in which he rode around in cart displaying the sign, "Property of Bush #41. Hands Off."

Whatever it is that She Needs To Do she won't be able to. She's already hemmed by her own lies (Bridge to Nowhere, earmarks, etc) and throwing more gasoline on those fires won't help her reclaim her image as a 'reformer.'

Anticipate a short, risk-free, perfunctory speech consisting of the usual assortment of various red meats/simplistic slogans (D's are evil sexists, God is on our side, the MSM is a bunch of meanies, etc) that will appease the salivating masses in the convention hall. But add nothing to the ticket.

Revelations regarding Sarah Palin's ability to govern won't be found in a speech written by a committee.

You can come out of your bunker, Anon...Sorry, no one is this stupid. This is America, not Uganda. Get a grip.
--
Just heard the DNC and Obama camp are so threatened by GOP new VP Gov. Palin that they may target and physically hurt her supporters!!!

It is said that Abraham Lincoln actually had a high-pitched, screachy speaking voice, not the baritone used by actors portraying him. So, there may be hope for Palin, the most annoying speaking voice since Lincoln! How could McCain not have had flashbacks to his treatment at the Hanoi Hilton when Palin opened her mouth? Oh, wait a minute, people vote for President based on the substantive merit of their veep picks, I almost forgot!

"Mr. McCain’s advisers said repeatedly on Monday that Ms. Palin was 'thoroughly vetted'"- The New York Times

Palin "responded to a 70-question form that included 'intrusive personal questions' a senior campaign aide said today."- The Washington Post

"Intrusive Personal Questions" from the Palin Vetting Questionnaire:

1) Did we forget anything?

2) Secession from your own country is

a) Patriotic
b) A qualification to be the potential leader of that country
c) Maverick-y!
d) None of the above

3) John McCain has said that he has followed your record for "many, many years." Divide those "many" years by the number of years of your actual record. The result is

a) Three days
b) Two years as mayor of a town of 9000, and 20 months at the helm of the vaunted Alaska National Guard
c) 0: experience, as we know, is not relevant to one's record
d) Czechoslovakia

4) Moose Burger : Abstinence as Moose Hunting :

a) Brother-in-law
b) 50 state flag
c) Bridge to Nowhere (after it was made impossible)
d) All of the above

5) Did we forget anything?

6) Three Vice Presidential candidates are moving from three equidistant fixed points towards a podium. One, in his slightly glazed stare and awkwardly quasi-combative speech bears a faint resemblance to Dan Quayle; the next can only assist the ticket as we near closer to Rapture; the third seems to have stumbled out of one of Christopher Buckley's sharper efforts. Which one arrives at the podium first?

7) "Nothing that has come out did not come out in the vet." This sentence actually means:

a) Everything has come out and everything has been vetted
b) Everything that was vetted has come out
c) Everything that has come out was vetted
d) The vet came out and vetted the vets vetter than anything has ever been vetted. Really.

8) You are a right-wing, red-state conservative. During the Clinton Administration, you believed that President Clinton's behavior with Monica Lewinsky disqualified him from the Presidency on moral grounds; you fervently raised the terms "Lincoln Bedroom" and "Johnny Chung" to invoke notions of utter corruption, and regarded the "Travelgate" firings as an abuse of power. In the face of the recent revelations regarding Palin's directorship of Ted Stevens' 527, support of the Bridge to Nowhere, "Troopergate" imbroglio, and illegitimate pregnancy of her 16-year old daughter, you:

a) Being near another large nation
b) Seceding from your own country and then taking up residence in the new nation
c) Being close to "Nowhere" in your support for the Bridge to Nowhere, which is different than being "Somewhere"
d) Blame George Soros

10) If you were seeking to choose as your running mate someone who would please Evangelical Conservatives with very traditional values, who would be without taint of corruption or misuse of government power, and someone who, in line with your campaign's own slogan, would put "Country First", after thorough vetting and "intrusive personal questions", you would choose someone who:

a) Supported the Bridge to Nowhere
b) Supported the secession of Alaska from the U.S. (Slogan: "Alaska First!")
c) Was the subject of a state ethics investigation due to allegations that she had tried to have her brother-in-law fired and that she fired the state public safety commissioner due to his unwillingness to fire the brother-in-law
d) Would suffer from allegations that her 16 year old child had become pregnant illegitimately, despite her fervent support for abstinence only sex education
e) None of the above

For all his seeming sincerity, McCain is embracing the Palin family in the same way he continues to embrace the Iraq War.

With all that’s happened in the last few days, it’s hard to imagine that he doesn’t have regrets about his choice. Yet his pride compels him to ’stay the course’ with Palin, much like his stance on the Iraq War.

To be sure, to cut-and-run may be worse that the alternatives. Yet I can’t help thinking that I want a President who won’t make such blatant mistakes in the first place.

Right on, Lilian! The dems are so blinded by their hatred of Bush that they're letting the very causes they've championed slip through their fingers. TWICE.

As we've learned, it's not the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the National Organization for Women. It's really the National Association for the Advancement of LIBERAL Colored People and the National Organization for LIBERAL Women. Women with other ideas, the dems being so "tolerant," just need not apply.

It's amazing how content-free the comments section of The Fix has become. Just a bunch of name callers (on both sides) and haters. No debate, no back-and-forth, and certainly no fact-based discussion (it's all emotion; almost 'drindl-esque')

Just heard the DNC and Obama camp are so threatened by GOP new VP Gov. Palin that they may target and physically hurt her supporters!!! Unbelievable.... Apparently that is why he is going on FOX's O'Reilly Show tomorrow night to counter McCain's nomination speech even though he flunks without teleprompters and in debates. As a sharp critic of DNC and Obama, should we worry about our family's safety too?

BTW, the true story behind her firing the state trooper, her ex-brother in law is, he was beating his wife and children with his police taser and threatened her Palin's father as well. So her ex-brother in law was beating up her sister, niece and nephews and her father. When this story goes out, Gov. Palin may become a national heroine...

Thinking Americans have different ideas. We are sick and tired of being embarrassed by the President of the United States and DEMAND MORE THAN A RUNNER UP MISS ALASKA TITLE AND A PAIR OF OVARIES as qualifications for the highest office in the land!!

This will make a great movie some day, but for now--GIVE US A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, NOT A JERRY SPRINGER SHOW CONTESTANT!!

To: Women of America, and Women all over the world who seek to be Free from the oppression that defines the way certain men in media and in power continue to treat women.

Ladies, if you take a look at the situation in today's media you will find a commonality.

Something just under the surface will tug at your conscience as if to say "this is strikingly familiar", and the pale and gruesome reality is that IT IS!

Remember when Hillary, a stellar candidate for the Presidential nomination, was at the height of her contest for the primary? Well do you remember what the media and bloggers did to her? It wasn't pretty, and more painfully, it WASN'T RIGHT!!!

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN!!

Certain bloggers/reporters/so-called-media constituents are at it again. They are making up stories about another woman candidate, solely for the purpose of SMEARING THAT CANDIDATE BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN!!

LADIES, YOU MUST NOT STAND FOR THIS DISRESPECTFUL AND UNEQUIVOCATED TREATMENT OF THE WOMEN CANDIDATES!! THIS MUST STOP!! THE TIME IS NOW!!

Whether you think Governor Palin should be the VP or not, YOU MUST DEMAND EQUAL TREATMENT FOR HER!! STAND UP FOR WOMEN!!

Barack Obama and the media DESTROYED Hillary.

Don't let the media and B.O. do the same thing to another woman candidate!! STAND UP AND FIGHT!! SARAH PALIN WOULD!!

I have followed through the numerous comments posted in the various newspapers and websites on Sarah Palin and am not surprised at the liberal and elite crowd running and in their haste publish any kind of innuendo. This is unfortunately what we have in the Democratic party today wanting to take charge of this country.

I was surprised by McCain's choice, but after reflection, it speaks quite a bit of himself at using the element of surprise to his advantage. Palin's first speech said a lot about this candidate. I am willing to bet that she will astound the liberal media and suceed in her further appearances. After all of the dirty tricks employed by the Obama campaign to bury Hillary Clinton, nothing will serve them their just reward as a successful first Republican Vice Presidential bid. In this life we pay our dirty deeds and I think that KARMA will hit the left media and Democrats in a way that they failed to imagine.

The american public and specially women will get even in November. Hillary and Bill ought to be celebrating in private!!!!

No, I don't think we will hold our breath, SeaWeed. Fact is, for those who aren't unhinged by Bush Derangement Syndrome, President Bush isn't up for re-election. But Biden is on the ticket. So I think we'll keep breathing AND continue to ask why there's a media double standard when comparing the children of Palin with Biden. And then take our judgment to the voting booth in November.

The American media never learns. The more they push, they more we turn away. LOL

Forget about the speech Palin is going to do. Won't Palin have to make a lot of trips to other countries as a veep? Is she going to drag along little Trignometry along with her every where she goes? Or is she going to burden Bristol with taking care of Trignometry also? A baby with down syndrome needs special care, and you can't expect a teenager to take care of two kids at the same time.

Just heard the DNC and Obama camp are so threatened by GOP new VP Gov. Palin that they may target and physically hurt her supporters!!! Unbelievable.... Apparently that is why he is going on FOX's O'Reilly Show tomorrow night to counter McCain's nomination speech even though he flunks without teleprompters and in debates. As a sharp critic of DNC and Obama, should we worry about our family's safety too?

BTW, the true story behind her firing the state trooper, her ex-brother in law is, he was beating his wife and children with his police taser and threatened her Palin's father as well. So her ex-brother in law was beating up her sister, niece and nephews and her father. When this story goes out, Gov. Palin may become a national heroine...

She's a liar, an abuser of power, a bully, a snakehandling christofascist wack, and most obviously a very bad mommy.

She is the worst candidate I have, in my 56 years, ever seen. She is not qualified for any office, much less VP.

She is going to be destroyed. And the Greeks understood why. "Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud." This woman's pride and overwhelming ambition in the face of no accomplishments whatsoever are going to lead to her total destruction.

...much adu about nuthin... Palin will be making a speech...one way...reading from a teleprompter. She will not answer questions. She can finish up and walk off to applaud whenever she wants. There is no risk involved tonite. This is NOT a debate or even an interview.

Rick Davis said yesterday that this election had nothing to do with the issues. For one brief moment, I thought things in this country were bad enough for people to actually pay attention and vote their fiscal interests instead of their religion or recreational activities. Instead people are scrapping over some governor no one's heard of.

All you McCain supporting/ Hillary revenge voters, I hope you're ready for what's coming after your prom queen ascends the VP throne. Alaska's about to have the GDP of many small nations.

Leading Republican woman are surrounding her and denouncing the sexism.

Wow. They put the impotent, hypocritical and male-submissive Democratic feminists to shame. After most of a years watching the media use executive political women memes like punching bags, the Republican women put their Democratic sisters to shame.

Who needs the Democratic party? Where are the great women executives? IN the Republican party!

Hillary Clinton should pull a Lieberman. The netroots are promising to make her lose her senate seat anyways. She's targeted as a pro-Israel hawk by them and targeted for political elimination, like Lieberman was. Clinton should take the hint and move on over to the Republican center.

I bet that they would take her if there was a good enough courtship process.

If Governor Palin is more qualified than Senator Obama, is she more qualified than Senator McCain? What executive experience does McCain or any Senator have? Does that mean only Governors or CEOs can run for the Presidency? I did not find that in the U.S. Constitution under qualifications. It did not say sitting Senators or Congressmen or Congresswomen are not qualified to run for the highest office in the land. However, it is no wonder than only three times in history has a sitting Congressman (Garfield in 1876) or Senator (Harding in 1920 and Kennedy in 1960) been elected President of the United States. Barring some extraordinary circumstance, this year will be the 4th time a sitting Congressman or Senator will win the Presidency. Usually,it's the Senator's voting record that comes back to haunt him, like Kerry in 2004 ("I was for it before I was against it"). There will be more commercials bringing up past McCain and Obama votes or lack of votes on certain issues. However, now the defense of Governor Palin suggests that being a U.S. Senator does not qualify one to be President. The criticism of Obama is he has only being a Senator since 2005. But are they also criticizing McCain and the U.S. Senate itself? What is a Senator in charge of? If this is the case, then Governor Palin and Senator McCain should switch positions and Palin run for President and McCain for Vice-President since she has so much executive experience as both a Mayor and Governor and McCain has NONE!

Obama's pick of Biden was a desperate move to help pad his resume with experience. Now that is peculiar. One would hope that the top of the ticket would have the experience. Especially when it comes to national security. But of course, as we all known, in the case of the cult leader that is not the way it is. The pick of the arrogant, puffed up, wrong on national security issues Biden only further exposed the Street Performer as weak.

Has Obama been vetted? Surely not. Had he been even the Lib Dem Socialist party would not have him as their nominee.

Terrorist connections, racist church affiliations for over 20 yrs, corrupt dealing with deep pocket Chicago political thugs, an angry Marxist racist wife, incomplete history with address locations not complete, flimsy voting record in the State Senate and God knows what else.

McCain’s choice of Alaska’s Sarah Palin shows that, by attempting to think outside the box, McCain has found a previously undiscovered way to lose a no-win situation. Seriously, choosing Palin is utterly ridiculous. Here are just a few reasons that I thought of without really trying:

1. Completely undercuts one of McCain’s main arguments against Barack Obama — that Obama lacks the experience to be president. If Obama isn’t experienced enough, what the hell is Palin? Should be hilarious to watch McCain and the republicans try to answer that one.

2. Introduces an issue that has not gotten nearly as much attention as it should — McCain’s age and health. It’s clear that McCain’s brain is already deteriorating, and with his advanced age, Palin is less than a heartbeat away from being president — it’s more like a half beat. Does anyone, including republicans, feel secure with the prospect of president Palin?

3. Alaska is already a republican state. No votes to pick up there.

4. McCain’s pick shows that he has essentially bought his own propaganda, believing that there are scads of Hillary Clinton supporters who won’t back Obama and need a reason to vote for McCain. While McCain and the corporate media spent all week talking about this phantom demographic, I think there are only a tiny number of such women who were given a disproportionately loud voice by the McCain campaign and the media trying to stir up trouble. If there are such women, my guess is that they were mostly disgusted republicans who were willing to cross party lines to see a woman become president. If there were any more, Hillary’s strong statements at the DNC will have left no doubt what supporting Hillary really means — voting with the democrats.

5. This is sure to infuriate the very powerful sexist wing of the republican party. I can’t imagine Rush Limbaugh supporting a woman president of any party.

6. Palin is in the middle of an investigation over whether she used her influence to get her former brother-in-law, State Trooper Mike Wooten, fired. When Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan refused to fire Wooten, Monegan was suddenly fired. Palin and her administration forcefully claimed they had nothing to do with it, but they had to reverse that stance when a tape surfaced of a call with one of her staff saying that Palin wanted Wooten fired. Firing dedicated public servants (a state trooper, no less), for political/personal reasons? DOJ attorney scandal, anyone?

7. Soon to be a YouTube sensation, Palin said in a CNBC interview that she doesn’t want to entertain the notion of being vice president until “someone answers for me what is it exactly the VP does everyday?” Why can’t she find out for herself? Don’t they have books and the internet in Alaska? If someone said I might be chosen as VP, I would find out myself what the VP does, not wait for someone to explain it to me. Maybe, like McCain and Bush, Palin is still learning how to use “a Google”.

8. Palin was the chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which “oversees oil and gas drilling, development and production, reservoir depletion and metering operations on all lands subject to the state's police powers”. Just the change America needs — another VP looking to enrich the oil industry. Totally undercuts McCain’s claim that he bucks the repubs by being more green and is not in the pocket of Big Oil.

9. Zero foreign policy experience. McCain attacked Obama for not visiting Iraq enough while Palin has never gone. The only possible concern in a Biden/Palin debate is that Biden crushes her so badly that she starts crying and people feel sorry for her.

10. Does McCain have any relationship at all with Palin? What in their “history” convinced him that she should be president? Does even McCain know?

11. Obama and Biden seem like a team — two smart men with different specialties who can advise each other and play off each other’s strengths, much like Bill Clinton and Al Gore. What does Palin bring to the table? What advice will McCain seek from her?

13. Palin is anti-choice. While this might make the 10% of Americans who want all abortions outlawed happy, it will alienate the vast majority of Americans. Not everyone knows that McCain wants Roe vs. Wade overturned and will do so if he can get more Supreme Court justices, and when they find that out, they run from McCain. Now they have one more person to run from.

15. If Palin became president, do you really think the Cheneys and Rumsfelds of the world would let her do anything? They'd send her to a quiet corner while the big boys took care of things. She’d just be another oil/corporate stooge, just like Bush.

16. Palin becoming president would do for women what Alberto Gonzales has done for Latinos and what Condoleeza Rice has done for black women — set them back a decade or more.

17. This is an example of McCain’s superior judgment?

18. Just try imagining a McCain/Palin in 2008 poster. Yeah, neither can I. And when I do, I get a hearty chuckle.

19. If McCain truly thinks that America is facing enormous challenges and dire threats from terrorists, Iran, Russia, China, and a crippled economy, why would he pick Palin to possibly be the leader of the free world?

20. The Alaska republican party is in tatters as it attempts to handle multiple corruption scandals.

21. President Palin, leader of the free world. Just say it aloud. Everyone feel safer?

I’m sure this list will continue to grow and grow. Palin and the McCain campaign just ran into a buzzsaw of their own creation.

You ask what she needs to do. The answer: Nothing. The McCain campaign's shrewd, Rove-trained campaign manager has played the oldest trick in the book, and it will work like a charm. He has attacked the media, and as a result the media will spout McCain's propaganda to prove their "balance" and to get back in McCain's good graces.

Palin? She could get up there and read a cookbook backwards in Swahili and the media would pronounce the speech a home run. Just wait and see. Fawning reviews are baked in the cake.

If Mc Cain and Sara Palin are voted in we as Americans are in deep trouble...Hes a flip switch.....She is irrelvant...With no backround.....Little education....A gun carrying female obsessed with power...Slightly dangerous in serious times.........I as a native California female...Born in a middle class world am shocked at the apparent mud slinging towards the Democratic party...Address issues for Gods sake....We have failed as a nation under the Republican President George Bush....We have slid down the ladder in the world..Wake up...............Palin is representative of another bad choice..What was he thinking? Shame on the Republican party..

I have followed through the numerous comments posted in the various newspapers and websites on Sarah Palin and am not surprised at the liberal and elite crowd running and in their haste publish any kind of innuendo. This is unfortunately what we have in the Democratic party today wanting to take charge of this country.

I was surprised by McCain's choice, but after reflection, it speaks quite a bit of himself at using the element of surprise to his advantage. Palin's first speech said a lot about this candidate. I am willing to bet that she will astound the liberal media and suceed in her further appearances. After all of the dirty tricks employed by the Obama campaign to bury Hillary Clinton, nothing will serve them their just reward as a successful first Republican Vice Presidential bid. In this life we pay our dirty deeds and I think that KARMA will hit the left media and Democrats in a way that they failed to imagine.

The american public and specially women will get even in November. Hillary and Bill ought to be celebrating in private!!!!

what does this speech matter? they campaign said themselves that they wrote it and that she's just adapting it to her voice. and so far, it seems, all of the gop surrogates on tv are saying that they are confident that if she were to take over as president she would follow "their" policies. what are her ideas?

ST. PAUL -- Top Republican women held a fiery press conference today to denounce what they consider to be sexist smears from the Obama campaign and the media against Gov. Sarah Palin.

"We want to call attention to the outrageous smear campaign against Sarah Palin," said former Mass. Gov. Jane Swift. "With her years of executive experience and legislative accomplishments, she is more experienced than Sen. Barack Obama" to become president.

"Gov. Palin's experience is in running a state," added Swift. "Barack Obama's experience, as he himself has said, is in running a campaign."

Wow, listen to the re-puke-li-scums try to cover for the dumb chick their enfeebled leader picked while surfing B-grade soft porn sites.

Magoo's reliance on enablex and Depends is heartening compared to his obvious senility.

Try as hard as they might, Davis, Salter, Rove (the real players) won't be able to save magoo from his own stupidity, scummy party and mental failings.

On November 5th we will be back on these pages laughing in your dumb faces.

Why, because, no single raindrop thinks it is responsible for the flood - yet they ALL are. Everybody who ever voted for these living turd$ is, in their own little way, responsible for the destruction of my great country.

I disagree with the go after Obama part, exceot on policy, but if you go after the experience question than she hurts herself and McCain. Because she'll be a melanoma away from the presidency. Obama earned his spot, she got appointed to her position.

For those of you who seem so enamored with Gov. Sarah Palin, it might be worth noting that she oversees the budget for the Department of Education and Early Development Special Schools in Alaska.
These funds provide supplementary educational services to students with severe disabling conditions and the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. The resident school where the child would normally be placed does not have the resources to provide an adequate educational program. Without the supplementary services the child's needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases.
The following programs are included within this component:
Special Education Service Agency (SESA)

This is a cut in special needs services to children in Alaska of 5,109,300 , or 62%.

So, as the Alaska State Budget description states, "Without the supplementary services the child's needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases."

Did 62% of all of the special needs children in Alaska stop having needs once Gov. Palin took office?

Before we get so excited about Gov. Palin bringing her "Reformer" agenda to Washington, perhaps we should get to know a little more about what exactly that means to our children, and the opportunities that she would "Reform".

If you ask me, a 62% cut in these funds, which we all know are so desperately scarce, and for which we all have to fight tooth and nail for our children, is a disgrace.

A charge of obstructing a police officer against the daughter of U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) was dismissed Tuesday after she apologized. Ashley Blazer Biden, 21, of Wilmington, Del., was with a group outside a North Side bar about 1:15 a.m. Aug. 3 when someone threw a bottle at an officer, said Jerry Lawrence, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office. When officers tried to make an arrest, Biden blocked one of them and made intimidating statements, police said. Circuit Court Judge William P. O'Malley dropped the misdemeanor charge after Biden and two of her friends apologized to police in court for their actions. Charges against John Kaulentis, 24, of Deerfield and ...

A belligerent barfly, who got the charges dropped... Way to go Joe.

Where were the questions about whether or not we should have a national dialog on drunken belligerent daughters of senators?

SHE SHOULD EXPLAIN HER ALASKAN SEPARATIST AFFILIATION, AKA THE EAST SIBERIA. AND THEN EXPLAIN WHY SHE SUPPORTS A BRUTALLY AGGRESSIVE PARTY. PERHAPS EXPLAINING WHY BUSH IS ON THE FRONT PAGE WITH A STUPID POSTURE AFTER I WAS SHOT IN THE EYE WITH ENERGY, 4 A.M. LAST NIGHT. THE PARTY STINKS, BUSH STINKS, ANYONE WHO DOESN'T STAND UP TO THEM STINKS.

Can she help McCain galvanize the party? Can she overcome controversy about her family and her conduct as governor? And could she step in and lead the nation in the event the 72-year-old McCain were incapacitated?
-------------------
Yes. No. No. Thank God.

The first major decision both Obama and McShame made are their picks for VP. This case shows McSame's lack of judgment, as it does Palin's, in not telling about the daughter until the day before. I could not care about the kid having a kid, I do question the wisdom and selfishness of her putting her daughter and new born son's concerns behind her blind ambition.

I recall way back when Madonna sang 'Papa don't preach", all the right wingers up in arms over the bad example it was setting.

Hello Chris, Gov. Palin is NOT an energy expert. As Governor of an oil and gas state then she may in fact know something of those two fuels but I see no evidence of her knowing solar, wind, hybrid fuels, etc. Is Senator Mary Landreiu of LA also an energy expert because she is from an oil state? I just heard you state her expertise on MSNBC and I keep hearing others say the same. Please provide proof that she is indeed an ENERGY expert! While the Republicans seem to be complaining about the press not giving this Governor a chance it seems to me that many of you talking heads just don't do your homework on any of the issues of the day. Experts are not determined by the geographic location of their residence.
From,
Judy (an expert on many things since I've lived in many states and countries and an expert on university education since I made a career therein...Chris, please contact me if you need expert information)

I am sure that Sarah Palin will give a superb speech tonight. She will be experienced in public speaking, she will have been well coached and the Party faithful will be prepared to cheer her to the rafters come what may. It is what her policies may be that concern me. She claims to be proud that her daughter chose to have a child. As she is totally opposed to abortion it would be honest and say the daughter had Hobson's choice. Would it be her intention to extend Hobson's choice in this matter to all American women? She claims to be pro-life, given that tens of thousands of Americans die every year from firearms incidents as she is an active member of the NRA does she believe in gun control in an effort to preserve life? She is reputed to be a creationist, she seems to take great delight in shooting animals for fun, does she believe that God created these animal for her enjoyment?

The part that really worries me is that she is allegedly on record as having said in her Church that the war in Iraq was God's war and that we were doing God's work fighting it. There is nothing that will cause more hatred of us amongst all Muslims if they think that we are fighting a religious war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will undo almost all the good work we may have done, even moderate Muslims will flock to fight us and she will have considerably increase the danger to our forces. Unless she disavows that then that alone should be sufficient to ensure that she never becomes vice president let alone president.

haha. i love it! i love it! quirming lefty dumbocrats have nothing, so they attack her 17 year old daughter. Such scum. But hey, she's more qualified than obama...and she is only going to be VP. Cant wait to watch lefty quirm tonight. HA HA.

SPEECH FOR REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
Good evening. America is great. [applause] This is the greatest country in the world. [applause]
We have the most powerful military in the world. [applause] We have the most powerful military in the history of mankind. [applause] […shouting over the applause] We have the most powerful military in the universe. [raucous applause]
And we never say we were wrong like those weaklings, the Democrats. Because we are always right. [applause] We never have to apologize for America like some people running for president (oops, sorry this was an actual quote from Fred Thompson… OK a paraphrase).
Yes, we are always right. [applause] And we will use our most powerful military to annihilate anyone who says we are wrong, or ever were wrong, about anything! [applause] Support the troops!!! [wild applause]
So… we are strong, great – I mean, the greatest, ever, really – and we are right. Always. [applause]
Oh… and God is on our side. And against everyone else. He is OUR God. Not theirs.
God bless America!!! [thunderous applause erupts into standing ovation].

I'm sure WaPo will NOT report it, but Biden's daughter was arrested outside a bar in Chicago (bye bye police records) for throwing a bottle at a policeman.

Now, do the Democrat bloggers really want to drag Bristol through the mud? Let's see
- shows Obama did not vet Biden properly
- Biden should really stay home and care for his family
- why are Obama and Biden hiding his daughter's alcoholism?
- It's all TOO FUNNY.

I expect Sarah to do very well in her speech. I expect it will play well outside of the convention hall, too. The issue is not her speech. Note the following editorial excerpts from her home state newspapers.

FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER:
"She has never demonstrated the kind of interest, much less expertise, in federal issues and foreign affairs that should mark a candidate for the second highest office in the land. Republicans rightfully have criticized the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, for his lack of experience, but Palin is a neophyte in comparison. Palin is not ready for the top job."

JUNEAU EMPIRE:
"At the national level, Palin will need a boatload of schooling on a shipload of issues, and the savvy to convince others she knows what she is talking about. For Palin and her handlers to say she has reformed a corrupt political system in her first two years as Alaska's governor is a stretch at best. So is saying she she boldly bucked the influence of big oil, and that she flatly said no to Ketchikan's infamous 'bridge to nowhere' earmarked in the federal budget."

Good evening. America is great. [applause] This is the greatest country in the world. [applause]
We have the most powerful military in the world. [applause] We have the most powerful military in the history of mankind. [applause] […shouting over the applause] We have the most powerful military in the universe. [raucous applause]
And we never say we were wrong like those weaklings, the Democrats. Because we are always right. [applause] We never have to apologize for America like some people running for president (oops, sorry this was an actual quote from Fred Thompson… OK a paraphrase).
Yes, we are always right. [applause] And we will use our most powerful military to annihilate anyone who says we are wrong, or ever were wrong, about anything! [applause] Support the troops!!! [wild applause]
So… we are strong, great – I mean, the greatest, ever, really – and we are right. Always. [applause]
Oh… and God is on our side. And against everyone else. He is OUR God. Not theirs.
God bless America!!! [thunderous applause erupts into standing ovation].

PALIN TO EVOKE JFK WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT
RUSSIAN ISLANDS OFF THE ALASKA COAST?

Chris:

I'd like to share with you and others an email I got from a former GOP PR operative (he posts as a "citizen journalist") who read my remarks of yesterday headlined "Baked Alaska: Palin Likely to Withdraw..."

I think it provides a clue as to what we might hear tonight from Palin. She may talk about two little Russian islands off the Alaska coast like they were Quemoy and Matsu, the two islands off mainland China that JFK used to prove his natinal security chops in those 1960 debates with Nixon.

That would be a very smart move. All the pundits would scramble to air the Nixon-JFK debate footage, and suddenly, Sarah Palin is heralded by the right (who hated JFK) as a new JFK.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was all gamed out, and that what is printed below is straight from the GOP playbook for tonight. Or maybe they are holding this back for Palin's debate with Biden. (That would be risky, because she might be forced to withdraw before then.)

Here is the (former) GOP operative's missive:

*******************************************

You may want to rethink the Dem talking point of, no national security experience. She is an Alaska Governor who gets briefings on the status of the missiles at Ft. Greeley, Alaska.

Her country borders on Little Diamede and Big Diamede islands. The close state to Russia flyovers and invasion of airspace.

She is probably more in the know about these issues the any other governor.

Well, at least this takes our minds off things like the troops, the high gas prices, the economy, the energy crisis, the lack of jobs and the lack of healthcare, the housing crisis and the $1 billion to Georgia.
Good Move "Maverick" It was very Rumpstilskin-ly of you.

Ok folks seriously, after this week lets get back to the real issues facing America.
There won't be enough time before the election to properly vet Palin so lets deal with the issues cited above.

If the child were a liberal, she would have already had the abortion, without telling anyone so she could get back to poking asap. the guy would have been Bill clinton or John edwards and would have denied everything. she would have asked the state to pay for it all. she would have dropped out of school and asked for food stamps.

then and only then could she be a proper liberal victim, needing THE ONE to solve her problems.

For those of you who seem so enamored with Gov. Sarah Palin, it might be worth noting that she oversees the budget for the Department of Education and Early Development Special Schools in Alaska.
These funds provide supplementary educational services to students with severe disabling conditions and the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. The resident school where the child would normally be placed does not have the resources to provide an adequate educational program. Without the supplementary services the child's needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases.
The following programs are included within this component:
Special Education Service Agency (SESA)

This is a cut in special needs services to children in Alaska of 5,109,300 , or 62%.

So, as the Alaska State Budget description states, "Without the supplementary services the child's needs would not be met by the local school district in most cases."

Did 62% of all of the special needs children in Alaska stop having needs once Gov. Palin took office?

Before we get so excited about Gov. Palin bring her "Reformer" agenda to Washington, perhaps we should get to know a little more about what exactly that means to our children, and the opportunities that she would "Reform".

If you ask me, a 62% cut in these funds, which we all know are so desperately scarce, and for which we all have to fight tooth and nail for our children, is a disgrace.

What's it called? The soft bias of low expectations? As long as Sarah Fundie doesn't use any homophobic slurs or equate legal abortion to a holocaust (and maybe even if she does), then the media will rush to say what a great job she did.

Just like Obama's crisis of character in mid-March with the Reverend Wright stuff, Palin needs to confront her detractors head on with a clear defense of her qualifications for the job. The elephant in the room isn't her gender or her kids, it's her qualifications for the office. Obama has been vetted over 20 months and has proven an adept politician with well-published policy stances that have been evaluated ad nauseum. Palin needs to use this as an opportunity to explain her stances on the issues, project an aura of gravitas and competence, and explain why she is fit to be the leader of the free world.